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Fire-Gilded Bronze Ganesha, Nepal, ca. 1800–1850

Name: Fire-Gilded Bronze Ganesha, Nepal, ca. 1800–1850
Brand: 1stBuddha
SKU: 373
Price: 6500 EUR
Availability: InStock

AvailabilityIn stock

Only 1 left

SKU

373

This finely cast bronze of Ganesha represents an early Nepalese prototype from which later reproductions were derived.

The iconography — the seated posture on a lotus base, the attributes in four hands (axe, sweets, lotus and gesture of protection) — became the standard model for many 20th-century workshop copies still produced today in Patan and Bhaktapur.

Unlike these later versions, the present sculpture shows all the technical hallmarks of 19th-century Nepalese craftsmanship: traditional lost-wax casting, hollow interior with hand-finished core removal, and original fire-gilding executed with mercury amalgam.

€6,500.00

TAX Block

Material: Fire-gilded bronze (copper-based alloy)

Surface: Original 24 kt gold leaf applied by traditional mercury amalgam technique; natural oxidation and residual gilding visible under magnification

Construction: Lost-wax casting with hollow interior and original core remnants; no modern repairs or fillers detected

Region: Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Period: ca. 1800–1850

Analysis: Examined under UV and microscope using museum-grade analytical methods; gilding, oxidation, and microstructure confirm historical authenticity

Remarks: Represents the Nepalese prototype from which many later Ganesha bronzes were copied throughout the 20th century

Retail Valuation (1stbuddha): €5,500 – €6,000

Fire-Gilded Bronze Ganesha, Nepal, ca. 1800–1850

In stock

Description

This impressive bronze sculpture of Ganesha, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles, represents an early Nepalese prototype that would define the standard form for centuries to come.

Dating from around 1800–1850, the piece was cast using the traditional lost-wax method and retains its original 24 kt fire-gilding, applied by mercury amalgam technique.

Under UV and microscopic examination, the gilded surface reveals the fine crystalline texture, minute mercury evaporation pits, and natural wear typical of genuine amalgam gilding. The gold layer shows deep integration with the underlying bronze, confirming historical application and long-term oxidation.

The figure sits on a double-lotus base, each petal individually shaped and highlighted with gilding. Ganesha’s four arms hold the characteristic attributes: an axe symbolizing the cutting of attachments, a lotus for purity, sweets (modaka) representing spiritual reward, and the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra).

The large crown, detailed with spiraled motifs and traces of old pigment, reflects Newar artistry from the Kathmandu Valley — especially the workshops of Patan, known for their refined bronzes of Hindu and Buddhist deities during the late Malla and early Shah periods.

Microscopic analysis of the interior and base shows a naturally oxidized core structure, grey and green corrosion layers, and residual sand inclusions from traditional mold construction. No traces of modern fillers or casting seams are visible, and the gilding runs uninterrupted into protected recesses — confirming its originality.

Though this exact model continued to be produced in later centuries, the present example can be identified as an authentic early prototype. The subtle facial expression, asymmetric modeling, and complex gilding sequence distinguish it clearly from the smoother and mechanically uniform reproductions made in Nepal and India after 1900.