Galerie Golconda

Bronze goddess in a staid position fixed to a base in the form of an escutcheon. She is wearing a cylindrical mokhot, with a sort of tiara in the shape of a diadem, and a long, prettily pleated sampot tied at the waist tapering off in a curving fishtail shape while her voluptuous chest is exposed. She wears anklets at her feet, long earrings and a necklace of a double string of pearls. She is also adorned by an elaborate floral diadem. In both hands, she holds the tantric attributes: in one hand, the ball and in the other a lotus, according to Vishnuite tradition. Her conical headdress represents a lotus bulb.
Very fine condition, traces of ancient blue aged patina consistent with the period.
A sterile, Brahmanic goddess, “daughter of the Himalayas” and second wife of Shiva (God of destruction and renewal), she is also called “the gracious one” as opposed to Durga “the combatant”. Uma is one aspect of the Great Goddess of Indian mythology known as Devi (“the Goddess”). She is usually considered Siva’s wife, and can take several forms, from the gentle Parvati to the fierce Durga to the destroyer Kali. She represents the wisdom that shows the way of Brahman and is considered the peaceful aspect of Parvati. Mother of Ganesh and Skanda, this goddess was much liked by the Khmer artists of Angkor for her elevation in the Hindu hierarchy.