Vintage Statuette - Laxmi

This miniature copper alloy statuette of Goddess Lakshmi was found during a sourcing trip through central Karnataka, in a modest town home where it had been part of a family shrine for 3 generations.

The figure reflects classic South Indian iconography — Lakshmi stands in a calm, upright posture, holding a lotus in her left hand, a symbol of purity and spiritual growth. Her right arm rests by her side. A horizontal belt crosses her chest, and faint traces of ornamentation — earrings, armlets, anklets, and a tall peaked headdress — remain, though softened with time and touch. A gentle, aged patina covers the surface, a result of years of use and exposure.

Pieces like this were traditionally made using the lost-wax casting method, a labour-intensive process where the original model was first shaped in wax, then covered in layers of clay to form a mould. The wax was melted out and replaced with molten metal, capturing the fine details in a single cast. Once cooled and broken out of the mould, the piece was finished by hand.

Though small in size, this statuette holds both spiritual and artisanal value — a quiet reflection of lived devotion and enduring craftsmanship.