17th C. Indian Copper Vishnu Murti, Heavy Ritual Wear!

$5,995.00

In stock

South Asia, Southern India, Tamil Nadu region, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. A cast copper murti figure of the Hindu god Vishnu, one of the principal deities of the Hindu pantheon. Revered as the preserver and protector of the universe, Vishnu embodies stability and cosmic order, here depicted standing upright in regal form with four arms. His upper right hand holds a chakra (discus), while his upper left supports a conch. The lower left hand retains the remains of a gada mace head on the verso, with a circular mark and drilled hole on the pedestal base suggesting where the shaft once rested, perhaps with a later repair or attempt to reattach it. The lower right hand is raised with open palm, once grasping the stem of a lotus flower, the fragment of which remains. The softened features and ritual wear, along with these losses, indicate centuries of devotional use as a home or temple murti – a sacred image central to Hindu worship and ritual practice. Size: 3″ W x 6.125″ H (7.6 cm x 15.6 cm)

Condition: Old losses to gada mace shaft and lotus flower in the lower hands. Hole drilled on base possibly at a later time to replace the lost mace shaft. Old loss to edge of pedestal. Heavy softening and rubbing to surfaces with losses to finer details. Clear signs of age and devotional use / handling.

Provenance: ex-P.T. collection, Queens, New York, USA

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