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Antique/Vintage Carved Hindu Devi Child’s Doll, India (3120FLK)

Original price was: $85.00.Current price is: $72.25.

H: 9.5″ W: 2″ D: 1.2″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

This antique hardwood local female deity from a provincial area in South India is a Devi, a positive female spirit and fertility deity. Hand crafted as a child’s toy, it was intentionally crudely carved without much detail and created to entertain and instill pride in the local community’s heritage and religion. It has a shiny patina from natural hand oil as it was handled daily for a century or so.  

Description

In India, as other Asian countries, Hindu children were given votive objects and carvings as dolls representing murti (deities), legendary heroes, and myths to entertain, educate, and reinforce pride in their heritage and religion. This Indian folk-art carving is a Devi, the Sanskrit word for goddess meaning heavenly, divine, and a thing of excellence. Carved Devis are positive spirits and fertility deities who over provide rain and protect the village’s agriculture and well-being and are unique to each village with individual origin stories and varying personalities. This Devi was likely an Indian girl’s first personal votive object and may have also been used for daily puja (prayers) on the family’s home altar.  She is identified by the tikka mark on her forehead, ample breasts – a wish for fertility-, bent arms across her waist, and her upright stance asserting her position as a deity. It is in weathered but good condition and much of the reddish paint covering its surface is visible under its darkened surface.This piece is part of the VA Collection of Hindu-Art and Hindu-Cultural-and-Ritual Art Collection.

Additional information

Dimensions 12 × 9 × 6 in
Place of Origin

India

Period

Antique/Vintage (1910-1980)

Date

1910-1980

Materials and Technique

Wood

Dimensions (inches)

Ht: 9.5” W: 2” D: 1.5”

Dimensions (metric)

Ht: 24.13cm W: 5.08cm D: 3.81cm

Weight

8 oz

Condition

Very good, patina and wear consistent with age and use

Item Number

3120FLK

Shipping Box Size