Garuda incense ritual base, Orissa

• Large incense or incense burner base depicting Garuda, India, Orissa, late 19th century.
• Garuda is a Vedic deity and the king of birds in Hindu mythology. Mounted by Vishnu, he is often depicted as half-man, half-eagle, symbolizing strength, speed and victory over the forces of evil. Enemy of snakes (Nāgas), he embodies divine protection and spiritual deliverance. His image is common in Indian art and temples, where he is revered as a guardian and symbol of loyalty.
• Compare with an example on display at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, inventory number EAX.281.
• Provenance: Estate of Himalayan art dealer and collector Claude de Marteau
• Sold with certificate of origin.
• H 25 cm x diameter 11.5 cm
• Weight: 1675 grams

Opinions on this piece vary: it’s possible that a tray fitted into the cylinder (which is hollow but saturated with wax), deposited a fossil stone (Ammonite) which is a non-anthropomorphic representation of Vishnu: the Shaligram or Saligram . This concave circular piece could also hold oil and a wick. (Ritual oil lamp)