“It is a beauty” was the first and spontaneous reaction from one of my dealer-friend-collectors. That was inevitably and almost instinctively followed by the question, “Where did you get it from? “

Well, leaving that aside, this is Rama and Sita. This bronze dates back to the Vijayanagara period. It is beautiful indeed.

Rama is identified by elimination. They are deities as both have Sira Chakkra. The Vyakhyana mudra is another indicator, maybe a weak one. But then Rama is often shown with Vyakhyana mudra. The Makara motif of Rama’s earrings provides definite proof. Among deities, Vishnu is the only one with Makara earrings in both ears. Rama is an avatar of Vishnu.

The Virasana of Rama and the Ardhapadmasana of Sita are in delightful contrast.

This is one of the finer examples of Vijayanagara bronzes I have. The copper-rich alloy, the full range of ornaments (fit for a king), the elegance of the lotus pedestal, and the detailing of the crowns are some of the highlights of this bronze.

It is about 14 cm tall and may be dated to the sixteenth century. One dealer suggested this may be from the Hoysala period, roughly the 12th century CE.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and here are a few thousand words…