Altar Ornamental Element, India, 18th/19th Century.

Ornamental altar element probably representing the goddess Durga, standing on a stepped pedestal. The figure has four arms, three pointing upwards and one pointing downwards, holding various symbolic attributes. She is richly dressed, adorned with jewelry and elaborate ornaments. The capital is carved with a stylized Sinh Yali head and two plant motifs, evoking fertility and abundance. The wood has a beautiful old patina, with a small lateral chip on the back. The whole is in good general condition of conservation (see photos). India, 18th/19th century. Dimensions: 22 x 7.3 cm (without the base). Height with base: 23.5 cm. Provenance: Former collection of Mr. Robert Boucher, cultural attaché in the years 1951 and 1952 in Ankara, Beirut and Pondicherry. Sold with certificate of authenticity from the expert Serge Reynes. Guarantee of origin and period. * Shipping costs on request This figure, an ornamental element of an altar, was probably intended to complete a ritual space or a sanctuary dedicated to a major divinity. Durga, one of the most venerated goddesses of the Hindu pantheon, embodies divine force and the destruction of evil. According to mythology, she was created by the combined energy of the gods to defeat Mahishasura, the buffalo demon, thus symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Her four arms, a typical element of her iconography, testify to her multiple powers. She holds a small drum, symbol of creation and cosmic rhythm, a trident representing divine force triumphing over dark forces, and an elongated object, interpreted as a sword embodying wisdom or a cloth evoking purification. Her lower hand holds a fruit, probably a pomegranate, symbol of fertility, or a drop representing divine nectar, promise of immortality. The upright posture, the rich ornaments and the sculpted details reflect a veneration for Durga as protector and dispenser of blessings. The plant motifs on the capital reinforce the association with fertility and vital energy, central elements of Hindu beliefs.