Country Group: South and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam)

Item id: 1412

Large, rare 17thC Indian casting of Durga. Extremely heavy, as she is composed of Astasdhatu, an 8 metals alloy which includes rare metals. She does not oxidize in the same way as bronzes, and keeps her wonderful deep honey color. She is solid cast and extraordinarily heavy for her size. This style is typically from the Bengal area. She was previously sold at a Sotheby’s auction about 10 years ago. I saw her in one of their auction catalogues which I cannot now locate. I do not know what they eventually sold for. She is one of those wonderful pieces which is both simple folk art and at the same time is very sophisticated, with her fine casting sculpting and finishing. The result is something quite special. She stands 11.75 inches tall not including the beautiful custom african ebony base, or the one inch long plinths which stick out of the bottom of her feet that secure her in to the base when she stands up. She weighs close to TWELVE pounds.