Statue, Khandoba - 18th c. - Maharashtra - 13 cm - Bronze






Has over 25 years' experience in Asian art and owned an art gallery.
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 143216 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Bronze votive sculpture of Khandoba on horseback from 18th‑century Maharashtra, India, measuring 13 × 7.5 × 5 cm, in good condition with a non‑signed finish and two parts joined by a mortise and tenon.
Description from the seller
Khandoba, regional manifestation of Shiva
Maharashtra, western India
18th century
Bronze
Dimensions: 13 × 7.5 × 5 cm
An interesting votive sculpture in bronze depicting Khandoba on horseback, a warrior and protective deity particularly venerated in Maharashtra, western India.
The deity is depicted seated on his mount, in a hieratic and majestic attitude. He wears a tall multi-tiered conical headdress, large ear ornaments, and a finely incised necklace. The face, with strongly stylized features, has large almond-shaped eyes, a prominent nose, and a solemn expression. The arms are extended, holding martial attributes, notably a long weapon and a shield, symbolizing his role as a protective and fighting divinity. The horse, treated in a popular, characteristic style, has an elongated head, pricked ears, a raised tail, and bridle decorated with incised motifs.
The whole rests on a multi-tier rectangular base adorned with geometric motifs and engraved lines. The bronze displays a beautiful old brown-gold patina, with natural wear revealing the warm color of the metal on the reliefs. The sculpture consists of two distinct parts, the rider and his mount, joined by a pegging system.
Khandoba, also known as Martanda Bhairava or Malhari, is a warrior manifestation of the god Shiva, particularly venerated in Maharashtra and some regions of Karnataka. A protective deity of rural communities, shepherds, and warriors, he holds an essential place in the popular religious traditions of western India. His main sanctuary is at Jejuri, in Maharashtra, an important pilgrimage center devoted to his cult.
Khandoba is traditionally depicted on horseback, armed with a sword and sometimes accompanied by his consort Mhalsa. His equestrian iconography symbolizes his warrior prowess, his ability to overcome demonic forces, and his role as a protector of the faithful. Small bronze sculptures of this type were intended for domestic devotion or local shrines, testifying to the vitality of regional religious traditions.
Condition:
Good overall condition, with signs of wear, rubbing, casting irregularities, and an uneven ancient patina. The rider is removable and attaches to the horse by pegging, in keeping with the sculpture’s design.
Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal
Sent with UPS and insurance
Seller's Story
Khandoba, regional manifestation of Shiva
Maharashtra, western India
18th century
Bronze
Dimensions: 13 × 7.5 × 5 cm
An interesting votive sculpture in bronze depicting Khandoba on horseback, a warrior and protective deity particularly venerated in Maharashtra, western India.
The deity is depicted seated on his mount, in a hieratic and majestic attitude. He wears a tall multi-tiered conical headdress, large ear ornaments, and a finely incised necklace. The face, with strongly stylized features, has large almond-shaped eyes, a prominent nose, and a solemn expression. The arms are extended, holding martial attributes, notably a long weapon and a shield, symbolizing his role as a protective and fighting divinity. The horse, treated in a popular, characteristic style, has an elongated head, pricked ears, a raised tail, and bridle decorated with incised motifs.
The whole rests on a multi-tier rectangular base adorned with geometric motifs and engraved lines. The bronze displays a beautiful old brown-gold patina, with natural wear revealing the warm color of the metal on the reliefs. The sculpture consists of two distinct parts, the rider and his mount, joined by a pegging system.
Khandoba, also known as Martanda Bhairava or Malhari, is a warrior manifestation of the god Shiva, particularly venerated in Maharashtra and some regions of Karnataka. A protective deity of rural communities, shepherds, and warriors, he holds an essential place in the popular religious traditions of western India. His main sanctuary is at Jejuri, in Maharashtra, an important pilgrimage center devoted to his cult.
Khandoba is traditionally depicted on horseback, armed with a sword and sometimes accompanied by his consort Mhalsa. His equestrian iconography symbolizes his warrior prowess, his ability to overcome demonic forces, and his role as a protector of the faithful. Small bronze sculptures of this type were intended for domestic devotion or local shrines, testifying to the vitality of regional religious traditions.
Condition:
Good overall condition, with signs of wear, rubbing, casting irregularities, and an uneven ancient patina. The rider is removable and attaches to the horse by pegging, in keeping with the sculpture’s design.
Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal
Sent with UPS and insurance
