Lot 77, Auction 3/19/2026: Indian Carved Wood Ganesh in Lotus Pose, Four Arms

$390.00

In stock

South Asia, India, ca. 20th century CE. A richly animated vision of divine presence, this carved wood sculpture depicts Ganesh seated in lotus position, embodying wisdom, abundance, and the gentle humor for which the elephant-headed god is beloved. The figure is carved in the round and shown enthroned upon a stylized lotus base, its layered petals rendered with rhythmic carving and remnants of red and blue pigment. Ganesh is represented with four arms, a canonical feature that signals his divine capacity to act in multiple realms at once. His elephant head is crowned with a tall headdress, the facial features boldly modeled with wide ears, a curved trunk, and almond-shaped eyes that retain a calm, inward focus. The corpulent torso and compact limbs are adorned with carved jewelry and textile details, emphasizing prosperity and divine ease rather than ascetic restraint. Size: 7.3″ L x 7.8″ W x 15.2″ H (18.5 cm x 19.8 cm x 38.6 cm)

Traces of polychrome pigment remain across the surface, including red, blue, black, and a gold-colored paint used to articulate ornaments and decorative bands. This gold-toned surface is purely pigment and contains no actual gold, consistent with many 20th century devotional sculptures produced for household shrines and local temples. Areas of wear and flaking paint speak to age, handling, and devotional use, giving the sculpture a sense of lived experience.

Ganesh is traditionally revered as the remover of obstacles and the patron of beginnings, learning, and commerce. His four arms often symbolize omnipotence and his ability to bestow blessings, remove impediments, and hold ritual objects simultaneously. Seated in lotus position, he embodies spiritual grounding and cosmic balance while remaining warmly accessible to devotees. Both devotional and decorative, the figure balances reverence with charm, offering a quietly confident reminder that even the god of obstacles prefers to sit comfortably while solving them.

Condition: Weathering to surface with splitting, nicks, fissures, chipping, and abrasions. Liberal remaining detail and pigments. Rich patina throughout.

Provenance: private Rogers, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Bosio collection, Miami, Florida, USA, 1960-2000

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