South Indian Bronze Image of Shiva & Parvati

This fine bronze image of  a four-armed Shiva seated in lalitasana with Parvati (Uma Maheshvara) balanced on his left knee has a fine chocolate-brown patina and much evidence of puja-related wear.

Shiva holds in his upper two arms two of his attributes, an axe and an antelope. He wears a high crown, as does Parvati. Parvati holds a padma or lotus flower in her right hand. Shiva’s primary right hand is in abhaya mudra.

Both Siva and Parvati wear multiple-strand girdles, and other ample jewellery.

Shiva sits on a rounded lotus petal platform which rests on a rectangular platform engraved with further lotus petals and cross hatching.

The loving couple sit beneath an arched, flaming aureole with a kirtimukha finial.

The bronze is small but well balanced. The ample wear is testament to the amount of ritual adoration and caressing that was lavished on the piece.