Antique Bala Krishna copper statue. India. From 17.-19. Century.

Antique Bala Krishna bronze statue. India. From 18.-19. Century.

Bala Krishna house altar / pilgrim figure statue, which depicts the Hindu god Krishna as a crawling infant.

Bala Krishna is also known as Bal Gopal or Laddu Gopal. It shows the playful baby Krishna, who crawls away, often while holding a ball of butter (navaneetha) or an Indian sweet (laddu) in his right hand.

Provenance: originates from the collection of a Danish nurse who from approx. 1947-60, was part of the UN's vaccination program, in Asia and Africa. In connection with this, she acquired this statue.

The worn face on this type of antique bronze figures always comes from ritual polishing. In Hindu tradition, this type of wear is called a 'pujapatina'. During the daily prayers and rituals (puja) as the face is the most prominent and sacred point, the years of repeated friction and drying out wear away the sharp details. It leaves the metal soft, smooth, and rounded, which today is considered an important sign of authenticity among collectors.

The material is a copper metal alloy.

Measurements: approx. 4,5x3,5x4,5 cm. Condition: see pictures.