Votive Figure

Nepal
19th Century
Provenance: Old European Collection

Votive figures were inhabited by ancestral spirits and kept in shrines as protective agents against evil forces. Served frequent libations of mud and other magical substances, these figures become more compelling with age as their worn wood takes on an almost mummified quality. This dramatic example exhibits cubist style sculpting, with geometric facial features and body positioning. Votive figures are often represented in a seated position with hands clasped together underneath the chin in a contemplative stance.

Height: 7.25 inches
IN 3-5-16 / SOLD