Figure Of Krishna As A Child, 19th Century India

Figure of Krishna as a Child, India. Small bronze figure depicting Krishna as a child on all fours, his body thrust forward in a dynamic pose typical of Bāla-Krishna. The head, with its delicately modeled features, wears a tiered headdress in the shape of a small stupa. Each hand holds a ball: one raised forward, the other pointing towards the ground. Beneath the torso, a discreetly engraved geometric shape suggests a workshop mark or a votive symbol. The rounded volumes, the compact posture, and the gentle frontality give the figure a calm and compact presence. Bronze, patina of age and use. India, 19th century. Dimensions: 6 × 7 × 3.2 cm. Provenance: Collection of the artist Geoffrey Kay, Salford (UK). Sold with an invoice from Galerie Ocarina and a certificate of authenticity from the expert Serge Reynes. "In Hindu tradition, this figure of Krishna as a child — Bāla-Krishna or Makhan Chor, "the butter thief" — embodies divine innocence, abundance, and domestic protection. The balls held in his hands refer to the butter stolen by the young god, a gesture that became a symbol of affection and closeness between Krishna and his followers. Such effigies were placed in domestic altars, where they received offerings and anointings to attract prosperity and goodwill."