On the pistil of an upturned lotus pedestal stands the steady chaturbhujadhari (four-armed) Ganesha, poised on a quadrilateral plinth engraved with lotus petals. The vertical structures on either side of the same are designed to be wound around with rope in order to manoeuvre the sculpture.
This Ganesha composition is a pancaloha murti from Swamimalai. Pancaloha refers to a blend of five (‘panca’) iron-based (‘loha’) alloys from which it is made, while Swamimalai is where the ancient bronze sculptural tradition of India thrives to this day. The earthy gold colour of the medium, together with the coppery blue overtones, are characteristic of Swamimalai pancaloha.
The hallmarks of this being an authentic Indian bronze are: the lifelike musculature of the deity’s form, how it conforms to textual iconography, and aesthetic details such as the style of crown and pedestal. Note the expressive composure of Ganesha’s countenance and the minimalistic yet powerful engravings on His crown and the flaps of His ears.
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