South Indian Bronze Image of Ganesh

This fine figure of Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity known as ‘the remover of obstacles’, has been cast from bronze in Tamil Nadu.

It shows Ganesh with a prominent pot belly and four arms. The arms hold the broken tusk (by convention, Ganesh often is shown with one tusk broken), a bowl of sweets, a noose and a goad.

The trunk curls around to the figure’s left and into the bowl of sweets. Other features include broad ears, a forehead bump, and ample caparisons.

Ganesh is seated on a fine conical, lotus petal dais mounted on a rectangular platform. His right foot rests on a rat – the deity’s vahana or celestial mode of transport.

He wears a tall, tiered, conical crown.

The image is in fine condition with a good patina and pleasing wear from puja (ritual prayer) use.