South Asia, India, ca. mid-20th century CE. A stunning cast-brass statue of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha or Ganesh, the Lord of Good Fortune who provides riches, success, and general prosperity, sitting on an integral plinth. The rotund deity displays an endearing pot belly - a feature that is the result of his love for sweets and makes for an adorable silhouette - and his characteristic 4 upraised hands, carrying a knife, a dagger, a noose, and a seashell. A snake, likely Vasuki, the serpent king, coils around his body. Capped by an elaborate, tiered headdress, the zoomorphic deity is adorned with epaulet like ornaments on his shoulders, flowing leg coverings with a bejeweled belt, and bracelets. Size: 7.75" W x 8.5" H (19.7 cm x 21.6 cm)
Esteemed as one of the principal deities of the Hindu pantheon, the first son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha is known as the Lord of Plenty or the god of auspiciousness, highly revered as the regulator of all obstacles with the power to create and remove them. Followers traditionally ask for his blessings at the beginning of any new paths or serious endeavors. The origin of his unusual physiognomy, particularly how he came to possess such an unusual head is the source of many legends, the most popular is that one day when Shiva was away from home, Parvati created a human son from her own body. She asked her son to guard the door while she was bathing. Quite unexpectedly, Shiva returned home, and the boy would not allow Shiva to enter his own household. Enraged by this, Shiva cut off the boy's head. Parvati grew quite angry and ordered Shiva to replace his head. Shiva did so with the head of the first living being he encountered, an elephant.
Provenance: ex Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA, donated to Ashland University between July 1994 to December 1998
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#164890
Condition
Top of noose missing. Light surface wear. Otherwise, very nice.