Indian Standing Figure Depicting Kali

Several arms, a hooded serpent overhead, and a stance that means business.

This standing figure depicting Kali comes from India and dates to the 17th century. It is brass. Kali is generally understood as a fierce aspect of the Hindu goddess, a destroyer of evil, and small brass images were widely made for home shrines. Here the goddess stands in a lively pose with several arms holding attributes, beneath the spread hood of a serpent. A tall arch frames her, edged with flame-like points and crowned with a mask. She stands on a small round pedestal above a stepped square base with incised bands. It is 7 inches high and 3.5 wide.

Small, bright and entirely in charge.