Southeast or Central Asia, ca. 15th to 17th century CE. A carved stone statue of the elephant headed Ganesha, seated upon a raised dais, perhaps in the form of a stylized lotus, with one leg crossed under his pot belly, beneath a fretted arch adorned with a central flower. Ganesha's portly state is the result of his renowned love for sweets, a pile of which he holds in his right lower hand. In his upper arms, Ganesha holds a pair of axes or goads. He is adorned with an elaborate head ornament and attended by a mouse, rat, or shrew just below his feet at the center of the lotus. A lovely example, finely carved on both sides! Size: 3.375" W x 4.25" H (8.6 cm x 10.8 cm)

Esteemed as one of the principle deities of the Hindu pantheon, the first son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha is known as the Lord of Plenty or the god of auspiciousness, highly revered as the regulator of all obstacles with the power to create and remove them. Followers traditionally ask for his blessings at the beginning of any new paths or serious endeavors. The origin of his unusual physiognomy, particularly how he came to possess such an unusual head, is the source of many legends. The most popular story is as follows; one day when Shiva was away from home, Parvati created a human son from her own body. She asked her son to guard the door while she was bathing. Quite unexpectedly, Shiva returned home, and the boy would not allow Shiva to enter his own household. Enraged by this, Shiva cut off the boy's head. Parvati grew quite angry and ordered Shiva to replace his head. Shiva did so with the first living being he encountered, an elephant.

Provenance: private California USA collection

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#122573

Expected wear with old losses. Wonderful patina.