Hindu Art

Hindu cultural and ritual art in our site includes objects of ritual worship performed by Hindus, including statues of deities (murti) and religious implements and objects related to puja (ritual worship). All must be beautiful and pleasing to the deities. Bali has animistic roots reflected in Balinese Hinduism. In Hindu Bali, masked dances are considered a sacred form of communication where the dancer can communicate with the gods. The masks are considered very powerful and the mask dances and historical dramas taken from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Babad Dalem are considered an offering to the Hindu gods.

Showing 1–12 of 33 results

  • Antique Brass Vishnu Oil Lamp (Diya), India (9571B-PAH) $165

    $165.00
    Ht: 3.75”  W: 3”  D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This heavy antique brass oil lamp is devoted to Vishnu with symbols for him and his consort Lakshmi who together are the paradigm for rituals and ceremonies of a blessed Hindu marriage. Used on a home or temple altar for daily prayers (puja), it has with a yoni shaped cup to store oil, a lotus top and a mark of Vishnu that his devotees wear on their forehead to indicate their spiritual affiliation.

     

  • Antique Bronze/Brass Nandi, South India (9510VHE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 3.25”  W: 1.375”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This small antique brass Nandi is exquisitely handcrafted with a wonderfully aged patina. He sits recumbent on a raised rectangular platform. Delicately incised with decorative details delineating the head, neck, snout and body, his right leg and tail are sinuous, graceful ornaments rather than defining features. His head is at a 45-degree with lyrically curved horns in contrast to most versions with horns extending backwards. This Nandi is based on a South Indian cow whose humpback is emphasized here by two parallel lines covering it as if is part of a saddle or another ornament feature.

  • Antique Hindu Peacock Oil Lamp, India (9526BEB) $365

    $365.00
    H: 13″  W: 8.5 ”  D: 4.75  ”  | FREE SHIPPING!

    This graceful brass oil lamp is topped by two peacocks, a large one that held oil and a smaller one decorated with striated lines. sitting high on a thin mount with  a spiral base. It was used for Hindu prayer rituals (puja) in the home or at temples and for devotional worship. This fine lost wax lamp with a soft patina is a one-of-a-kind piece. Often used in Hindu religious sculptures, peacocks have a strong religious tradition and represent harmony, joy and beauty and the time cycle.

     

  • Antique Hindu Votive Oil Lamp and Ladle, India (1204BHE) $450

    $450.00
    H: 5.5”  W: 13.75”  D: 3” | FREE SHIPPING

    This graceful South Indian cast brass oil lamp with attached spoon was used for Hindu prayer rituals.  It has an oil reservoir in the center, a shallow yoni shaped burner at the front, a finial at the end and it is mounted on a flared circular foot. The top surface is decorated with incised floral motifs.

     

  • Antique Kumkum Container, Nepal (1278XAE) $295

    $295.00
    H: 3” Dia: 2.875″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This  finely designed bronze kumkum container was used in Hindu worship (puja). It is a well-shaped ornamented cup divided artistically into three sections: a top flat lip surrounded by decorative bosses and parallel lines, and band of stylized leaves, and set on a tubular trunk on a decorative base.  Also known as chopra containers, they were made from a variety of materials, although bronze was rather rare and used by wealthy Hindu women and royalty to store tikka kumkuma powder, as the poor could only afford those made from wood or pottery.

  • Antique Lakshmi Oil Lamp, India (9508D-PBE) $245

    $245.00
    H: 5″    W: 3.25 ”    D:3.875  ”    | FREE SHIPPING!

    This brass oil lamp diya is decorated with an image on front and back of Lakshmi seated on a lotus, full-breasted and broad hipped, beneficently smiling and being lustrated (showered by water) by a pair of elephants, symbolizing rain clouds bringing water and life to the land and that unwavering effort to adhere to spiritual teachings and governed by wisdom and purity leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.

     

     

     

  • Antique Majapahit Miniature Terracotta Head, Indonesia (1137EHA) $195

    $195.00
    Ht: 2.75”  W: 1.375”  D: 1.125” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This terracotta head was crafted during the Majapahit Empire in Java and was either part of a bas-relief frieze or made as a freestanding figurine. Most figures found are small decapitated heads with no bodies, and it is very rare to find a complete figure with a naturalistic facial expression. As with many heads, this one displays Javanese facial features, hairstyles and ear ornamentation typical of the period. It has a naturalistic facial expression and wears large round coiled earrings, possibly suggesting it represented someone of the upper classes. It is in very good condition given its age and use and is mounted on a metal stand. This item pairs with Majapahit Miniature Terracotta 1138.

     

     

  • Antique Majapahit Miniature Terracotta Head, Indonesia (1138EHA) $195

    $195.00
    Ht: 4”  W: 1.5”  D: 1.75” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This terracotta head was crafted during the Majapahit Empire in Java and was either part of a Hindu bas-relief frieze or made as a freestanding figurine. Most figures found are small decapitated heads with no bodies, and it is very rare to find a complete figure with a naturalistic facial expression. As with many heads, this one displays Javanese facial features, hairstyles and ear ornamentation typical of the period. It has a naturalistic facial expression and wears large round coiled earrings, possibly suggesting it represented someone of the upper classes. It is in very good condition given its age and use and is mounted on a metal stand. This items pairs with Majapahit Terracotta Head 1137.

     

     

  • Antique Repoussé Vishnu Votive Plaque, India (5174A-TAK) $250

    $250.00
    H: 7.5”  W: 5.75”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This repoussé votive plaque portrays the Hindu deity Vishnu, the Protector of the Universe with a double aureole holding the conch shell he uses to make the om (aum) sound that embodies divine energy and is considered to be the sound of the universe which encompasses all sounds within it. He wears a crown representing his supreme power and earrings signifying  the dual nature of creation. The lotus next to him and the lotus leaves of his throne symbolize purity, truth, and the unfolding of creation.

  • Antique Silver Ganesh Pendant with Four Arms and Sweets (22043BLE) $395

    $395.00
    Ht: 5.125   W: 3.75″ D: 0.625″ | FREE SHIPPING within continental U.S.

    This massive, heavy silver pendant represents a four armed Ganesh seated within a betel shape frame wearing a crown and reaching for modak, a rice flour sweet dumpling filled with coconut that is his favorite treat.  Ganesh pendants are worn for good luck as he is the God who removes the obstacles in devotees’ lives.

     

     

  • Antique Silver Hindu Pendant Necklace Krishna with Gopis, India (20045BCL) $695

    $695.00
    Ht: 3.625”  W: 3.5”  D: 0.75  5oz. | FREE SHIPPING!

    This rare antique tribal amulet of high grade silver with fine high relief craftsmanship is truly magnificent. It portrays Hindu Lord Krishna sitting in the Tree of Life playing his melodious flute serenading the Gopis who become enthralled with his spiritual music symboling the Hindu belief in the loving interplay between the deities and the human soul. Krishna pendants are protective, have healing powers and bring devotees spiritually closer to him.

  • Antique/Vintage Brass Nandi Figurine, India (9509A-GAH) $245

    $245.00
    H: 4.5”  W: 2.25”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This well articulated figurine features is Nandi decorated with jewels and recumbent on a high-tiered pedestal throne. Nandi figurines are placed on home altars for daily puja and are decorated with flowers and incense offerings as a sign of respect and this image has an attached incense holder for this purpose. Made using lost wax casting, it is a one-of-a-kind piece in very good condition with a fine patina and smooth surface.

     

     

End of content

End of content