A figure of the Hindu god of good fortune, Ganesha, with an elephant’s head and four arms. Executed in yellow cast-alloy (brass and bronze) using the waste mould technique. Ganesha is the son of the god Shiva and his wife Parvati. He is the god of good fortune, success in everyday life and business – making him one of India’s most popular Hindu gods.
The present sculpture depicts Ganesha on a three-tiered rectangular plinth, sitting atop his ‘sacred steed’, a rat (in India, rats are considered to be especially intelligent and strong). The god sits in the ‘lalita asana’ position (the right leg hanging down, the left leg bent). Unusually, both ears and the aristocratic crown atop his elephant’s head protrude to form stylised fans. The hands of his four arms carry symbols which are difficult to identify (lotus buds?). As often typical, Ganesha is depicted with just one tusk. According to legend, he ripped out his other tusk himself. Additionally, the god of fortune is wearing a necklace and a typical Brahmin thread or sacred thread crossing the left shoulder, chest and perpetually dome-shaped stomach. All in all, this is an extremely charming, rustic small Indian sculpture with good old usage patina. There is no noteworthy damage.
Height: 17 cm. Between the 19th and the early 20th centuries. (ME)