This is Annapurna standing in Samapada. She is identified by the ladle and pot in her hands. She is standing on a two-tiered rectangular pedestal. An ornate prabhavali gives her the backdrop. The lower part of the prabhavali is supported by two yalis, a mythical creature.

Though Annapurna is worshipped throughout India, most of the bronzes we see are from Maharashtra or Western Deccan. More details are on another blog on Annapurna.

Standing Annapurna is rarer compared to seated Annapurna. This bronze has a well-designed prabhavali and it makes it much more special. In the book ‘Change and Continuity: Folk and Tribal Art of India‘ on page 57 there are two examples of standing Annapurna. They are referred to as Ambika in that book, incorrectly I think.

The example we have here is more of a folk version, bordering classical.

The stepped crown, yali in the prabhavali, tapered base and fixed prabhavali are some of the features worth noting.

DB, one of the senior collectors, pointed out this may be single cast bronze. That makes it quite special.

This bronze is about 10 cm in height. The face shows significant ritual wear. This may date to the eighteenth century.