INDIA, TRAVANCORE, CIRCA 15TH CENTURY

Details

A bronze oil lamp
India, Travancore, circa 15th century
Very crisply cast with four-armed Laxmi seated on a dais at center, her principal left hand raised in blessing and her right hand out in invitation, the other hands grasping lotus buds, flanked by confronted elephants on either side, the group surmounted with a flaming arch emanating from the mouths of two makaras and centered by a third, a link chain cast in one piece and attached with a bird in the center and a hook at the end, with an inscription at the front
11¼ in. (30 cm.) high, chain 21½ in. (55 cm.) long

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Lot Essay

The iconography of Laxmi being bathed by the elephants is derived from the story of the sea of milk being churned by the gods (devas) and demons (rakshas) to discover all of its gifts. In addition to potions of immortality, the churning also produced other heavenly gifts, including as a wish-granting horse and the Apsara damsels. Laxmi also appeared, causing singing and dancing among the celestial beings and elephants to sprinkle her with holy water, thus giving her the second name Gajalakshmi.

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