PLATE WITH HINDU GODS AND CRAFT GUILDS.
India; Andra-Pradesh. In the style of the 17th c.; but later.

Bronze with dark patina. The plate shows five craft guilds: The blacksmiths; the woodcarvers; the copper casters; the stone carvers and the goldsmiths with their tools and examples of their work. Above all in the center Shiva dancing as Nataraja flanked by Ganesha and Kalki. Height 30cm. On the back an inscription in Devanagri dated to the year 1681; but possibly made later. Condition A/B. Supplement: Small travel shrine with Tirthankara of the Jain. Copper with silver inlays. India; 16th/17th c. H. 12;9cm. On the back a dated inscription.

Literatur:
-Mallebrein Cornelia: Die anderen G鰐ter - Volks- und Stammesbronzen aus Indien. K鰈n;
1993. Compare type p. 160/161.

Provenance:
-Private collection Westphalia.
-Acquired by an India expert 1970-90 on a local travel.
Art trade; Van Ham.