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TAMIL NADU, 17TH - 18TH CENTURY
Bronze
20 in (50.8 cm) high

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY

PROVENANCE
The Estate of Khorshed Karanjavala


Krishna is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu pantheon. This sculpture shows a playful, young Krishna holding a butter ball in his right hand (navanitanritya). He is adorned by ornaments and his girdle is decorated with bells and tassels. He wears a karandamukuta. Bearing a calm demeanour, he balances on one leg with his left arm gracefully extended. The tips of his right toes rest gently on a lotus.

Similar sculptures are illustrated in Dehejia, Sensuous and Sacred, p. 199, no. 51; and Desai and Pal, Centennial Bouquet, p. 36, no. 13. Writing about a 15th century bronze in the Khandalavala Collection of Indian Art at the CSMVS (Prince of Wales) Museum in Mumbai, Pratapaditya Pal writes, "Images of the mischievous but endearing child Krishna are among the most charming created by south Indian artists, especially in metal. A favourite was that in which the naked toddler is shown dancing in joy holding a butter ball in his right hand. Symbolically the ball may also double as the universe, as it does in the hand of the adult Vishnu who is no different from Krishna." (Desai and Pal, Centennial Bouquet, p. 36)

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