A BRONZE FIGURE OF DURGA RIDING A LION, INDIA, 15TH CENTURY The seated goddess mounted on the separately cast lion standing foursquare on a stepped rectangular pedestal, the wide base and waisted plinth engraved with lappet borders framed by beaded edges. Her four arms holding a sword, trident, conch, and bowl, the face with almond shaped eyes centered by an urna and surmounted by an ornate crown. The lion and base each with two apertures for a mount.

Inscriptions: The base punched with the name of a previous owner, 'Krishna Jyoti Amvane'.

Provenance: From a South German private collection, mostly assembled between the 1960s and 1980s.
Condition: Good condition with minor wear and casting flaws, small nicks and dents, light scratches, losses.

Weight: 5,052 g
Dimensions: Height 33.4 cm

Durga is a major deity and supreme divinity in Hinduism. She is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities and is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. The most popular legend associated with the goddess is of her killing of Mahishasura, a half-buffalo demon who did severe penance in order to please Brahma. Durga was created by the trimurti to destroy Mahishasura and was gifted a lion as her mount. She is seen as a motherly figure and often depicted as a beautiful woman, riding a lion or tiger, with many arms each carrying a weapon and often defeating demons.

Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 20 March 2008, lot 345
Price: USD 5,000 or approx. EUR 7,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A brass figure of Durga slaying the buffalo, India, Orissa, 15th century
Expert remark: Note the much smaller size (14.9 cm).