Lot 255 , A group of three brass alloy Shiva Mukhalingam, Southern India, 16th-18th century

A group of three brass alloy Shiva Mukhalingam, Southern India, 16th-18th century, each depicting a Shiva head, wearing his characteristic moustache, earrings and matted hair, one example surmounted by a removable Naga (cobra) figure, 13.5-19.5cm

Provenance: bought from a specialist dealer in New Dehli, India in 1975, thence by family descent.

Mukha-linga signifies a visage or face on a metallic, cylindrical casting used to cover a stone lingam. The cover is thought to protect the viewer from the harm that could occur on visualization of the linga, especially one with eyes painted on its surface, which is believed to energise the figure.
£600-800

Condition:
All with typical minor casting imperfections. The largest example has some casting imperfections and small flake losses behind each ear and two small holes to the side of his chin. The smallest example has heavy wear to the facial features consistent with great age and use and has some toned down patina. The example with the Cobra head which slots into the back of the head has very heavy wear to the face and forehead consistent with great age and use but lacks depth of patina.

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