Statuette Of The Goddess Kali In Carved Ivory

Indo-Portuguese, Goa, India, late 19th-early 20th century (circa 1880–1920)

Superb, finely carved ivory statuette representing Kali, Hindu goddess of destruction and death. The deity is depicted standing, in her characteristic iconography: – her foot resting on a reclining male body, – four arms holding her attributes (curved sword, severed head, sacrificial cup, offering arms), – her tongue protruding and her face grimacing, – a necklace of severed heads and a belt of severed hands, – abundant hair falling in long locks down her back. The original molded rosewood base (a precious exotic wood), of European inspiration, underlines the fact that this work belongs to the Indo-Portuguese production of this period.

Dimensions
Height without base: 18.5 cm
Height with base: 28.5 cm
Ivory width: 10 cm
Wooden base width: 12.5 cm

The highly detailed workmanship (hair, facial features, necklace and loincloth decoration) reveals the mastery of the ivory workshops of Goa and Daman, renowned for their virtuosity. The reverse is fully worked, which shows that the object was designed to be viewed from all angles, in keeping with its intended purpose as a curio for European collectors. The wooden base, fashioned in a Western style, confirms the Indo-Portuguese typology: a fusion of Hindu iconography and European presentation.

In the 19th century, the Indo-Portuguese workshops, heirs to the tradition of Christian ivory workers active since the 17th century, produced not only Virgins and crucifixes. They also responded to a growing demand for secular or Hindu representations, executed in a refined style that appealed to European lovers of exotic curiosities.
See:
– Similar examples are held at the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. – Comparable statuettes of Indo-Portuguese Hindu deities (Kali, Durga, Vishnu) have been presented at Sotheby's and Christie's sales, including: • Sotheby's London, Arts of India, 2019 (ivory statuette of Durga, Goa, 19th century). • Christie's Paris, Art d'Asie, 2017 (ivory statuette of a Hindu deity on a molded wooden base, Goa, 19th century).

Valuation Note – Statuette of the Goddess Kali

Indo-Portuguese ivory statuettes such as the one presented are highly sought-after, especially the large ones. Most productions depict Virgins or Christian saints, with Hindu representations such as Kali being rarer. At recent auctions, Indo-Portuguese statuettes measuring 20 to 25 cm have sold for between €6,000 and €13,500.

Given its size (18.5 cm), the quality of the carving, the state of preservation, and the original base, this Kali statuette can be estimated at €4,000 to €7,000 at auction. Up to €15,000 at a specialized Indo-Portuguese gallery. Special feature: the sale is subject to international regulations on ivory (CITES) and requires a certificate attesting to its seniority (before 1947) which is provided with this work.

Note: A label in Spanish is affixed to the bottom of the work.

Between 1880 and 1920, the workshops of Goa, still a Portuguese colony, continued to produce carved ivories inherited from the Indo-Portuguese tradition. These works, blending Christian and Hindu iconography, were exported to Europe, particularly Spain, where they found a place in private collections and at world exhibitions.

1. Late Goan Production (1880–1920)

• Goan workshops continued to produce carved ivories of Christian inspiration (Virgins, Christs, saints), as well as Hindu statuettes such as that of Kali, adapted to the tastes of European collectors.

• The smooth polishing, naturalistic features (almond-shaped eyes, expressive faces), and turned wooden bases are characteristic of this late production.

2. Export to Spain

• Ivory objects circulated mainly via Lisbon, before being redistributed to Barcelona and Cádiz, two Spanish commercial ports.

• Spanish collectors sought these ivories for their exoticism and artistic value.

• International exhibitions (such as the 1929 Barcelona Exposition, planned as early as the 1910s) encouraged the distribution of these pieces on the Iberian market.

3. Types of Exported Ivories

• Christian religious statuettes: dominant in the late Indo-Portuguese trade.

• Hindu figures: rarer, such as Kali, intended for collectors of exotic art.

• Small decorative objects: crucifixes, inlaid caskets, intended for European collectors.

4. Cultural and Symbolic Value

• More than just mass-produced goods, these ivories were perceived as prestigious objects, testifying to the Indo-Portuguese artistic fusion.

• In Spain, they fueled both private collections and the Orientalist curiosity of the elite.