Vintage Indian Brass Goddess Lakshmi Sculpture 6" Hindu Altar Art

Description

View Vintage Indian Brass Goddess Lakshmi Sculpture 6" Hindu Altar Art with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. To command a premium, high-end price bracket for a devotional piece of this nature, an item must be contextualized with rigorous art-historical accuracy. This piece demonstrates the authentic, hand-finished aesthetic typical of historic local foundries rather than mass-produced factory molds. Academic Overview & Typological Research To command a premium, high-end price bracket for a devotional piece of this nature, an item must be contextualized with rigorous art-historical accuracy. This beautifully detailed brass sculpture depicts the Hindu goddess Lakshmi (or Devi), the divine mother and embodiment of fortune, prosperity, and grace. Standing at a well-proportioned 6 inches tall, it perfectly captures the serene and sacred aesthetic of traditional South Asian metalwork, ideally scaled for a private home shrine ( mandir ) or an ethnographic gallery collection. Typology & Literature Analysis In the classical literature of Indian art and the canonical texts of the  Shilpa Shastras —which dictate the strict proportions, postures, and attributes of Hindu deities—standing female figures are classified by their  bhanga  (posture) and the specific implements they carry. The Standing Posture (Samabhanga/Tribhanga):  This sculpture features a gentle, almost imperceptible sway, capturing a graceful, relaxed elegance that breathes life into the rigid cast metal. This subtle movement is a hallmark of skilled regional craftsmanship. The Altar Scale:  While grand architectural bronzes were commissioned for major temple complexes, intimate figures measuring around 6 inches were highly prized for domestic devotion. This piece demonstrates the authentic, hand-finished aesthetic typical of historic local foundries rather than mass-produced factory molds. The Divine Attire:  The goddess is adorned in a meticulously incised lower garment (dhoti) secured by a jeweled girdle. The torso is adorned with traditional necklaces and sacred threads, emphasizing her regal and maternal status. Iconographic Details & Symbolic Features The Four Divine Arms (Chaturbhuja):  In Hindu theology, the four arms represent the four goals of human life ( purusharthas ):  Dharma  (righteousness),  Kama  (desire),  Artha  (wealth), and  Moksha  (liberation). The Sacred Implements:  The upper right hand delicately supports what represents a lotus bud ( padma ), a universal symbol of purity and spiritual awakening. The upper left hand holds the conch shell ( shankha ), symbolizing the primordial sound of creation. The Mudras (Hand Gestures):  The lower right hand is extended downward in the  varada mudra , the gesture of dispensing boons and charity. The lower left hand is raised in the comforting  abhaya mudra , offering protection and fearlessness to the devotee. The Lotus Pedestal (Padmapitha):  The deity stands firmly upon a stylized, circular double-lotus base, elevating her from the earthly realm and anchoring the sculpture's spiritual weight. Item Specifications Culture/Region:  Hindu Art / India Subject Matter:  Goddess Lakshmi (Devi) / Four-Armed Standing Deity Material:  Cast Brass / Bronze Alloy Technique:  Lost-Wax Casting ( Cire Perdue ) — Hand-finished, individual strike. Height:  6.0 inches Width:  3.2 inches Depth:  2.0 inches Weight Profile:  Solid, substantial small-scale metalwork. Condition Report Excellent vintage gallery condition. This bronze displays a beautiful, warm, antiqued patina with natural oxidation resting in the deeply carved recesses of the casting. The structural integrity is immaculate, with no fractures, bends, or post-casting repairs. Category: Antiques › Asian Antiques › India.

Primary Material

Bronze

Type

Ink Pot

Color

Dark Brass Tone

Original/Reproduction

Antique Original

Region of Origin

India

Age

1850-1899

Country of Origin

United States