South Indian Bronze Image of a Vaishnavite Saint

This decorative and well-cast image is of a fleshy Vaishnavite saint seated cross-legged in sattvasana on a raised, rectangular dais engraved with lotus petal motifs.

The image’s hands are in the anjali mudra posture. The long hair is pulled back tightly to the back of his head.

He wears long strands of rudraksha beads down his chest.

The image has a yellow-brown patina with contours softened from age and puja (prayer) handling. Two holes in the platform at the back suggest that once, there was an aureole or backing plate. There is some old loss to the left corner of the platform.