A Bronze Figure of Subramanya | South India, Nayaka Period, 17th – 18th Century

Project Description

Description: Bronze, 57.2 cm high
Catalogue note: The Hindu god of war stands on a lotus base with his lower hands in abhayamudra and varadamudra, and upper hands holding a vajrayudha or thunderbolt, and a saktiayudha or an ax-like weapon. Subramanya, the son of the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati and the brother of Ganesha, is an important figure in South India, where he is often worshipped with forms of Shiva such as Somaskanda, Nataraja and Chandrashekhara. One of his most powerful attributes, the saktiayudha was given to him by his mother, Parvati to destroy the enemies of heaven.
Provenance: Acquired from Christie’s, Sale 17347, Lot 643, Invoice no. DB19005295. Collection of Peter Cochrane, London | Sotheby's New York, 19 March 2008, lot 285
Catalogue no.: 2019A0172