Sacred figure of a ritual kid, India

Ritual figure of a he-goat, carved in polychrome wood, featuring a beautiful patina of wear combined with numerous successive repaints.

• India, first half of the 20th century.
• Provenance: Estate of the dealer and collector Claude de Marteau.
• W 54 CM X D 18 CM X H 25 CM

Strength, virility, and mounts of the gods

Within the tradition and mythology of Indian sculptures, the goat and the he-goat hold a rich symbolic importance, expressed through both high philosophy and popular agrarian cults. The he-goat and the ram (Mesha) essentially embody wild vitality, brute strength, perseverance, and virility. They also serve as the mounts for two deities in particular:

The he-goat is harnessed with an ornate ritual saddle, establishing it as a vehicle (Vahana).

The god of sacrificial fire, Agni, traditionally uses the ram or the he-goat as a mount (vahana), where the animal symbolizes the fiery energy and generative power essential for the activation of life. The ram or he-goat is also the form taken by King Daksha after his submission to Shiva.
The goddess Kali: In certain forms of worship, notably tantric and local traditions, the goddess Kali is sometimes associated with the riding of a black he-goat, linking the animal to forces of profound transformation and the overcoming of the ego.

Another ritual goat sculpture, linked to the Vahana tradition, is also offered for sale.