Indian Brass Krishna & Radha

This small pair of matching brass standing Krishna and Radha images are most interesting for their eyes which are outlined with red enamel, and have white and black enamel eyes.

Krisha plays a flute of rolled brass foil, and stands in padavastika with his right ankle crossed over the left. Radha listens intently and has almost a dance position. Both wear minimal clothing and each stands on a domed dais engraved with lotus petals. Both have their hair pulled to a bun at the top.

Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, played his flute to attract and seduce the milk maids (gopis). He is known as Venu-Gopala in this manifestation, or literally ‘the cowherd with the flute’.

Both figures show little puja wear. There is some age-related discolouration to the brass on bothy pieces. The figures are simple but it is the treatment of the eyes which lifts the figures to a more interesting level.