This small bronze figure is Krishna as a chubby child (Bala-Krishna) dancing on one leg. He holds in his right hand a ball of butter stolen from his mother and is looking happy about it. Krishna is one of Vishnu’s avatar and is hugely popular.  A pan-Indian Hindu deity.

Krishna’s is dancing standing on the slightly bent left leg, with the right leg raised and placed on Lotus bud. The left arm is stretched out (pataka) while the right-hand holds out a pat of butter towards the viewer. Krishna is naked, wearing only a girdle, anklets, bracelets, necklace, armlets and earrings. His hair is pulled back and tied into a bun.  The rear of the head has Siraschakra, a sign of divinity.  He is wearing the sacred thread, more clearly visible from the back.

All these details in a figure of about 5.4 cms height. It is from Karnataka. The seller had estimated the bronze is from 16th to the 17th century.