A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF GANESHA, SOUTH INDIA, 18TH CENTURY
The potbellied deity seated in lalitasana on a petal-form pedestal atop a square base, clad in a finely incised dhoti and adorned with upavita (sacred thread), his face with lozenge-shaped eyes below neatly incised arched brows, his long trunk coiled, the head surmounted by a tiered crown topped by a bud finial.


Provenance
: From the private collection of Naval Captain Schüz, Germany, acquired in the early 20th century, and thence by descent within the same family.

Condition
: Very good condition with expected old wear and casting irregularities, tiny nicks, and light scratches, possibly once with attributes now lost. Remnants of ancient pigment. The bronze with a rich, naturally grown, smooth patina.

Weight: 198.1 g
Dimensions: Height 7 cm


Literature comparisons:

Compare a related copper alloy figure of Ganesha, 12 cm tall, dated 1775-1820, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number 907(IS). Compare a related brass figure of Ganesha, 14 cm tall, dated 19th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IM.77A-1930.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2019, lot 635
Price: USD 6,875 or approx.
EUR 7,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small bronze figure of Ganesha, South India, 17th-18th century
Expert remark: Note the size (9.2 cm).