Statue, Nandi - 7 cm - Bronze

Beautiful and authentic antique religious devotional figurine of Nandi, the sacred bull and faithful mount of the Hindu god Shiva. The object originates from India and is handcrafted around the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The bull is depicted in the classic, resting pose and stands out for the characteristic stylistic features of traditional Indian folk art, recognizable by the stylized rendering of the legs and the primitive, yet charming incisions in the decorative neck collar. This type of compact figurines was intensely used at the time for personal home altars or carried as a protective travel amulet.

The figurine is cast from a heavy quality bronze using the traditional lost-wax method. On the underside of the base is visible the typical bowl-shaped cavity that remains after the casting core has been manually scraped away following the casting process. With a weight of 195 grams for the compact dimensions of 7 centimeters length, 6 centimeters height and 4 centimeters width, the object feels very solid and robust.

The authenticity of this piece is fully reinforced by the splendid, time-worn patina. The deeper areas contain ancient, compact dark oxidation residues, while the raised parts such as the snout, the horns and the back have naturally become smooth and lighter through decades of handling and ritual actions. Also the broad edge at the bottom shows the perfect wear one would expect from an original utilitarian object that has been slid across hard surfaces for generations. This is an honest, unpolished and characterful collectible in an excellent antique state, without modern restorations or artificial interventions.

Dimensions: 7x6x4 cm
Weight: 195 g