South Asia, India, ca. 19th century CE. A lovely altarpiece depicting a cow standing with her calf, all cast from silver. The bovine creatures stand atop an integral ovoid plinth, the mother peering forward with almond-shaped eyes in front of backswept ears, and the calf with its head raised in a suckling manner towards the milk-providing udders. The lustrous surfaces provide an enticing presentation. Size: 2.5" H (6.4 cm)
The cow as mother and caretaker is a theme that makes paramount sense, as Hindus have traditionally relied on this bovine creature for its dairy products, as a source of labor to till the fields, as well as a source of cow dung used as an organic fertilizer. In the past, cattle were only possessed by the most fortunate and were a status symbol akin to gold. What's more, in Hindu mythology, Krishna, one of God's incarnations or Avatars, tended cows and calves. In addition, there are numerous reverences to the devout reverence to cows and bulls in the major texts of the Vedic liturgy.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Doris Wiener collection
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#173283
Condition
Minor abrasions and softening to some finer details, but otherwise in excellent condition with lustrous surfaces.