Sculpture of a man & lion (18th century)

The 18th century Rajasthani wooden sculpture pictured above, in high relief, is that of a man seated on a stylized lion. The lion has distinct features like enlarged eyes and an upturned curved tail. It is seen baring its teeth fiercely. The rider seated on the lion is holding its mane and the pedestal below them is decorated with beautiful floral patterns. This is just one of many distinctive sculptures at our store. Seeing it for yourself is much better than just zooming in on the picture. Visiting us is easy, pick just about any day and it could just be ‘the day’ you bought something really awesome! For further details visit www.thegreateasternhome.com.

Sculpture of a royal Chieftain (18th century)

This is an 18^th century Rajasthani sculpture, in high relief, of a royal Chieftain. He is seen standing on a pedestal which is decorated with double lotus petal motif borders. His right hand is placed squarely on his right thigh and the left hand is upraised. The chieftain has a big mustache and he is heavily accessorized with ornaments which include earrings, kaddas, necklace, anklets and a waist band. Behind him is a stylized sylvan background and a Kirtimukh on top. Kirtimukha is the name of a fierce monster face with huge fangs and gaping mouth which is quite common in the iconography of Indian and Southeast Asian temple architecture. This one-of-a-kind wooden sculpture is displayed at one of our showrooms. Plan your visit at www.thegreateasternhome.com.

Mask of a demon (19th century)

Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes, usually as pieces of ornamentation. Among its other fabulous collectibles, The Great Eastern Home has a tribal mask that belongs to the 19^th century. This kind of art form, also known as Ethnographic art, displays the visual and material cultures of indigenous people. This ‘demon’ mask, partially looks like a lion with ferocious eyes and an open mouth baring its teeth, with the tongue outstretched. The demon is shown wearing a band over its forehead and it bears faint patches of black, red and white shades.

Tribal art is often ceremonial or religious in nature. They typically originate in rural areas, thereby inculcating the subject and craftsmanship of artifacts from tribal cultures. We would be glad to welcome you on any day of the week from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on a visit to see this mask yourself at www.thegreateasternhome.com.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribal_art

18th century sculpture of Goddess Laxmi

Sculpture has always been an essential part of Indian civilization; a culture that dates back to ancient times and has flourished uninterrupted to the present. It is fundamentally important to India’s one billion Hindu adherents. The sculptures serve as the focal point for the devotees to worship, meditate on, or otherwise communicate with Hinduism’s innumerable deities and demigods.

The Great Eastern Home has taken pleasure in displaying an 18^th century old sculpture of Goddess Laxmi (also known as Vaishnavi) in high relief in the South Indian style. The goddess is four-armed and seated on a lotus. There are lotus-petal motifs behind her and a small figure of a devotee seated on the left side. The proportions of the body and face follow rules and standards established many centuries ago. The goddesses are thought to be supremely beautiful with their shapely bodies and fine facial features. Alas, we can say that we are some centuries late to witness the artifact intact, as the sculpture is a bit defaced and damaged. But it is all worth a look at The Great Eastern Home! You can reach us at www.thegreateasternhome.com.

Erotic sculpture from 18th century

Erotic art covers an artistic work that is intended to evoke arousal; usually a difficult form of art to explain because of the perceptions of both, what is erotic and what is art fluctuates. It revolves around items that are intended to be pieces that capture the formal element of art   and drawing on other historical artworks.

Pictured here is an erotic sculpture in high relief from Rajasthan, showing a couple standing in the alingan pose (*alingan is the Hindi word for ’embrace’), on a pedestal with floral motifs. There were most certainly detailed carvings of eyes and jewellery, but they are barely visible now, especially with the cracked wood. The Great Eastern Home has taken utmost care to preserve this 300 year old sculpture, which you can now view at our showroom.

A visit to our showroom will be well worth your time because once these pieces are out in the cyber universe, they tend to get off the shelves sooner. So take your time to check out the collections that interests you at www.thegreateasternhome.com.

The head mask of Lord Bhairav

Lord Bhairav is the fierce manifestation of Shiva, associated with annihilation. He is commonly known as Kala Bhairava, who originated in Hindu mythology as a result of a conversation between Brahma and Vishnu.

Pictured here is a head mask of Lord Bhairav, made of bronze and brass, dating back to the late 18^th century or early 19^th century A.D. The mask is coated with a greenish-brown film, which is produced by oxidation over a long period, and is prized by collectors ars a sign of authenticity. Lord Bhairav is heavily accessorized with earrings, pendants, necklaces and an ornamented band over his forehead.  In this fearsome mask he is shown sporting fierce eyebrows, a moustache, with an open mouth, and a third eye on the forehead. If you observe minutely you can see  a hole in the center of each eye. He is depicted ornamented with cobra hoods around his head.

Lord Bhairav is one of the most important deities for the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike. He is the main deity worshipped by the Aghora sect.

Come see it for yourself and experience firsthand the awe that this splendid artifact is designed to create. Plan your visit soon at www.thegreateasternhome.com

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhairava

18th century Pichhwai painting

Indian paintings provide an aesthetic canvas that extends from early civilization to the present day. From being essentially religious in purpose, in the beginning, Indian paintings have evolved over the years to become a fusion of various cultures and traditions. Pichhwai, a very ancient form of art passed down the generations, are intricate paintings which portray Lord Krishna. These paintings, commonly found rendered on cloth, show Krishna in different moods, body postures and attire. They can still be found in the holy town of Nathdwara in Rajasthan. The purpose of Pichhwais, other than the artistic appeal, is to narrate the tales of Krishna to simple folk.

The Great Eastern Home has an 18th century old Pichhwai painting where Lord Krishna is playing the flute and is flanked by several cows and gopas from both his sides. The painting is framed with a floral scroll border. You will be so spellbound by it, even the damage caused by time may just go unseen.

You should come visit us as soon as you can, because Pichhwai paitings are quickly snapped up by collectors. Plan your visit at http://www.thegreateasternhome.com.

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pichhwai

18th century high relief sculpture

An 18^th century sculpture, it features a man standing on a pedestal and playing a bugle. The attire of the man looks that of a commoner’s as he is seen wearing a frock-coat with a scarf wrapped around his neck and a tight garment below along with a turban on his head. To his left is a young boy also playing a bugle. The man is flanked by animals. The bugle has its own history: it has always been a simple brass instrument having no valves or other pitch-altering devices and it is played by using the facial muscles alone (embouchure). The wood sculpture shows its age and damage has almost obscured the details.

The original location of this piece is unknown but it most certainly shows the workmanship of an old art form.  You can view many more artifacts just like this at http://www.thegreateasternhome.com or at our store, which makes a visit a treat for any history and antiquities buff.

18th century sculpture of Hanuman

It is said that he was the son of the King and Queen of the monkeys. Some say he is the son of a female Apsara (who had been transformed into a monkey by a curse) and Vayu, the wind god. He is immortalised for being an ardent devotee of Rama and that alone confirms that we’re talking of one of the earliest Indian superheroes: Hanuman.

The South East Asian sculpture here shows Hanuman, wearing beautiful ornaments which had been decorated with glass pieces, in a climbing pose. Age has dimmed the decorations. Being more than 200 years old, the sculpture, which had been painted in various colors, now barely has any colour left on it. This rare artifact is from South East Asia.

At The Great Eastern Home you will find many gems like these. Each of them has a past waiting to be discovered and appreciated. Visiting us is easy. You will find detailed instructions at www.thegreateasternhome.com.

Ramji Dongre

Viewing Ramji Dongre’s art transports one to a world of stories and ballads with the compelling force of its colours and imagery. Hailing from a small village, Ramji’s work is steeped in all that is mystical, mysterious and supernatural; a throwback to our myths, while they also create new ones.

A reflection , not only of the world of dreams, but also of rural craft traditions. Ramji believes that the canvas is like an open sky, waiting to capture all things, living and non-living, without any fear of boundaries. His artworks consist of a single main subject juxtaposed with smaller, supporting elements, creating vivid contrasts. Using saturated backgrounds to dramatically set-off unusual tonal values, Ramji rivets his audience’s eyes to his creations. Every time that happens, he succeeds in pulling off the magic illusion.