Mukhaliṅga, the face of Śiva under the Nāga. - Lost wax bronze casting. - 1750-1800 Maratha Empire (1674-1818)

Solid cast in lost-wax bronze, finished with chasing, featuring the anthropomorphic head of Śiva's Linga protected by the broad hood of an erect nāga serpent fanning out like a fan. The square stepped base is decorated with registers of engraved motifs in contrasting dark fill, depicting stylized vegetal patterns alternated with dotting and arches; the same graphic treatment animates the diadem, the rhomboid bindu on the forehead, and the torque around the neck. The compact volume and simplified lines recall the devotional metal tradition of western Deccan (Maharashtra/Karnataka), with comparisons to late-medieval production that survived in popular contexts until modern times.
Predominantly a ritual object intended for domestic Śaiva worship: the presence of the nāga, an emblem of protection and power, emphasizes the aniconic nature of the Liṅga endowed with the divine face. The brown patina with slight oxidations, the blackening from anointing, the concretions, and the cracks from fusion retreat visible along the back of the cap and at the base attest to prolonged and genuine use.

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