{"product_id":"south-indian-ganesha-sandstone-votive-carving-18th-19th-century","title":"South Indian Sandstone Ganesha Votive | Circa 18th – 19th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Origin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e South India\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carved sandstone with remnants of surface pigment\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18th–19th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis intimate South Indian sandstone votive depicts Ganesha, one of the most recognizable and widely revered deities within the Hindu tradition. The compact devotional sculpture presents the elephant-headed deity seated within a deeply carved architectural or shrine-like surround.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite centuries of surface wear, the characteristic form of Ganesha remains discernible, with the prominent elephantine head and trunk rising above a substantial seated body. The surrounding relief retains additional sculptural details now softened through age and handling, giving the piece the heavily worn and tactile character associated with an object that may have experienced prolonged devotional use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticularly notable are scattered remnants of pink to reddish surface pigment preserved across the sandstone. Such coloration adds an important dimension to the object, providing evidence of its formerly more vivid appearance and potentially reflecting either decorative pigmentation or devotional applications associated with ritual practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old handwritten collection label remains affixed to the reverse and reads “Bhonegheer S. India,” preserving an important historic association with the object and providing additional evidence of its collecting history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe small scale suggests that the sculpture was intended as a personal or localized devotional image rather than a monumental architectural carving, making it an evocative surviving example of vernacular South Indian religious art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Depicts the Hindu deity Ganesha\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Compact seated devotional composition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Elephant-headed form remains clearly identifiable despite extensive wear\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Deeply carved shrine-like surrounding elements\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Scattered surviving pink and reddish surface pigment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Naturally developed darkened patina and mineral deposits\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Significant surface smoothing consistent with age and prolonged handling or devotional use\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Old handwritten collection label to reverse reading “Bhonegheer S. India”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGanesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, occupies an especially important position within Hindu religious tradition. Revered as the remover of obstacles, patron of beginnings, and deity associated with wisdom, prosperity, intellect, and good fortune, his image has traditionally been invoked before journeys, ceremonies, important undertakings, and significant life events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall stone images such as this were well suited to household shrines, localized places of worship, and personal devotional environments. Comparable 18th–19th century Indian stone Ganesha sculptures demonstrate the continuation of this deeply rooted devotional tradition into the late pre-modern period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surviving pigment and pronounced wear are particularly compelling, as they speak not only to the sculpture's manufacture but also to its history as a potentially active devotional object rather than one created solely for decorative display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood antique condition consistent with considerable age and devotional use. The surface exhibits extensive wear, smoothing, abrasions, mineral deposits, discoloration, pigment loss, and scattered small losses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old loss is present to the upper left portion of the carving, as also recorded in the prior auction condition report. Remnants of pink and reddish pigment remain visible throughout. The old handwritten collection label remains affixed to the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions (Approximate)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 3 in\u003cbr\u003eWidth: 2.35 in\u003cbr\u003eDepth: 1.2 in\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge (Approximate)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e125–325 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong Island, New York private collection, where the piece was preserved within an established collection of Asian antiquities and historical objects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly in the collection of Nancy and John Hyde Devoe, New York City and New Jersey, active collectors during the 1950s–1970s. Their collection was assembled during a significant period of American interest in Asian, ancient, and ethnographic art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old handwritten label preserved on the reverse reads “Bhonegheer S. India,” providing a valuable historic geographic association that accompanied the sculpture through its earlier collecting history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubsequently handled by Artemis Fine Arts Gallery, a specialist dealer in ancient, classical, ethnographic, and culturally significant works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLearn about a South Indian stone sculpture of Ganesha from Tamil Nadu in the collection of the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/collections.lacma.org\/object\/33790\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"South Indian Ganesha Sculpture – Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLos Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover our curated \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/buddhist-and-hindu-relics-sacred-statues\" title=\"Buddhist and Hindu Relics: Sacred Statues Collection\"\u003eBuddhist and Hindu Relics: Sacred Statues Collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56179097862466,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/First_photo_design_78.jpg?v=1789519488","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/fr\/products\/south-indian-ganesha-sandstone-votive-carving-18th-19th-century","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}