1: A round ritual vessel, with three chain hanks and a hook for hanging. Vessels such as the present one used to be hung over a stone Shiva lingam standing in the centre of every Shiva temple as a symbol of the god Shiva.
Such vessel were filled with ‘holy’ water from the Gange River (because the god Shiva originates from the hair of the river deity ‘Ganga’). The water drips through a small hole at the bottom of the vessel onto the head of the Nandi bull underneath (Nandi = the god Shiva’s mythological mount). From the mouth of the Nandi bull, the ‘holy’ Gange water then drips on the Shiva lingam standing under the vessel – as a constant ‘sacrificial offering’ for the worship of the god Shiva.
The present, heavy ritual vessel was made with yellow cast (brass) in ‘waste mould’ together with the bull’s head. Its bulbous outer side features four heads of the elephant-headed fortune god Ganesha, made of cast brass and applied in all four directions (Ganesha = son of the god Shiva). A very rare, interesting ceremonial object, from an Hindu Shiva temple in India. With good, old patina. H: 22 cm (the vessel), 68 cm (vessel hanging from the chain and hooks); DM: 14 cm (upper margin), 26 cm (belly of the vessel with 2 Ganesha heads).
2: A heavy chain, probably belonging to the ritual vessel. With three figural parts: with a praying worshipper (Parvati, the bride of the god Shiva?), an elephant and a peacock, as well as with a pierced, hollow sphere for for burnt offerings and a flat, round oil lamp. The hooks at both ends of the chain are cast in the shape of a fish (with a parrot’s head). All parts of the chain, joints, sphere and Lamp, as well as the figures are all individually made of yellow cast-alloy (brass) in ‘waste mould’ and subsequently assembled. L: 196 cm. B
oth items in the present mixed lot: 19th century or earlier. (ME)

Provenance: German Private Collection.