Indian Pilgrimage Figure of Lakshmi

Arms bowed out and hands joined at the waist, with a smile that has worn soft.

This pilgrimage figure of Lakshmi comes from Maharashtra, India, and dates to the 16th – 17th century or earlier. It is brass. In Maharashtra and beyond, small brass deities were generally cast for travel and household worship, their features simplified so they read clearly at a glance. Lakshmi stands upright on a round lotus pad above a square base. Her tall conical crown frames a round face, hair falls to her shoulders, and her arms curve outward to meet at the waist, leaving two open spaces at her sides. Her skirt is incised with fine lines. It is 3.25 inches high and 1.5 wide.

Prosperity, rendered with real economy.