About this piece
She steps forward with a sword, a flaring arch behind her and a small attendant at her side.
This standing figure of Kali comes from Maharashtra, India, and dates to the 18th century. It is brass. Kali is generally understood as a fierce form of the Hindu goddess who destroys evil, and small brass images of her were widely made for household worship. Here she stands with one leg raised, holding a sword and a shield, with an animal at her feet and a small figure beside her. A tall arch rises behind, flaring into flame-like points and topped with a crest. It is 7.5 inches high and 3.5 wide.
Small in size, and in no way small in presence.








