Important Notice

TAMIL NADU, CIRCA 17TH CENTURY
Bronze
9.5 in (24.6 cm) high

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY

PROVENANCE
Property from a Distinguished Family Collection


This endearing image of Balakrishna captures his majesty and playfulness at the same time. 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, dancing young Krishna holding a butter ball in his right hand (navanitanritya). He balances on one leg with his left arm gracefully extended. The tips of his right toes rest gently on a lotus. He is adorned by ornaments and his girdle is decorated with bells and tassels. His head gear is an endearing bun which is reminiscent of a child whose hair has not yet been shorn as an offering to the family deities. The sculpture is placed on a base that was likely added later.

Writing about a 15th century bronze in the Khandalavala Collection of Indian Art at the CSMVS 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." (Kalpana Desai and Pratapaditya Pal, A Centennial Bouquet: The Khandalavala Collection of Indian Art in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai: Marg Publications, 2004, p. 36) Similar sculptures are also illustrated in Vidya Dehejia, The Sensuous and Sacred: Chola Bronzes from South India, p. 199, no. 51; and Desai and Pal, p. 36, no. 13.

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