Antique Shri Lakshmi copper statue. India. From 17.-19. Century.

Antique Shri Lakshmi copper statue. India. From 17.-19. Century. Shri Lakshmi is an important goddess in Hinduism, especially known as the goddess of wealth, luck, prosperity, and beauty. She is often associated with good fortune, abundance, and spiritual harmony. She is married to the god Vishnu. The statue is standing in a tribhanga position (three-bending position) on a lotus base, with a conical head covering and detailed jewelry. Provenance: the collection originated from a Danish nurse who from around 1947-60 was part of the UN's vaccination program in Asia and Africa. In connection with this, she acquired this statue. The scratches on the face of this type of antique bronze figurine almost always come from ritual rubbing. In Hindu tradition, this type of wear is called a 'pujapatina'. During the daily prayers and rituals (puja) the face, being the most prominent and sacred point, is repeatedly touched and dried, which gradually wears away the sharp details. This leaves the metal soft, smooth, and rounded, which is now considered an important sign of authenticity among collectors. The material is a copper metal alloy. Dimensions: ca. 19x4,5x3 cm. Stand: see images.