Statue, Shiva Nataraja - first half 20th century - 15 cm - Bronze

Shiva Nataraja
India
First half of the 20th century

Bronze
Dimensions: 15 × 12 × 4.5 cm

Elegant bronze representation of Shiva Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance, one of the most emblematic manifestations of the god Shiva. Created in India in the early 20th century, this statuette reproduces the ancient iconography of Ananda Tandava, the dance of felicity, through which Shiva simultaneously expresses the forces of creation, preservation, and dissolution of the universe.

The deity appears in a particularly dynamic dancing posture, the body placed at the center of a wide circle. The circumference is rhythmically surrounded by a succession of stylized flames, materializing the cosmic fire and the cyclic nature of the universe. Shiva is depicted with four arms. One of the front hands is raised, the palm facing the devotee, in the protective gesture of abhaya mudra, signifying the absence of fear. Another hand accompanies the movement of the body and symbolically directs attention to the raised foot, associated with spiritual deliverance. The rear hands bear the attributes traditionally linked to Nataraja, among them the small damaru drum, whose rhythm evokes the primordial creative impulse. Shiva’s hair spreads spectacularly on either side of the head in long radiant tresses. This treatment evokes the violence and energy of his cosmic dance. The high coiffure, jewelry, bracelets, and elements of the garment are rendered with incised and abundantly molded ornament, characteristic of Indian cult bronze.

An essential iconographic detail appears beneath the supporting foot where Shiva crushes the dwarf figure Apasmara, represented lying on the base. In Shaivite iconography, he personifies spiritual ignorance, illusion, and the forgetting of true knowledge. His subjugation by Shiva thus signifies the victory of divine consciousness over ignorance.

The figure and its circle of flames rest on a multi-tiered architectural plinth, the upper part of which is ornamented with vegetal motifs and stylized lotus petals. The casting appears to have been created in several volumes integrated into a relatively slender composition, as shown by the reverse, much less detailed than the front. The hollow base visible beneath the sculpture also testifies to its fabrication method.

Condition: The bronze shows an aged patina with nuanced brown-gold, coppery tones and, in places, darker hues, with naturally polished areas on the prominent parts. Surface irregularities and signs of wear contribute to the artisanal character of the piece. In good overall condition for its age.

Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal