Chola Style Shiva Nataraja From South India

This large late 20th-century bronze reproduction depicts Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance, one of the most celebrated images in Hindu art. Made in South India in the style of the great Chola bronzes, it is an unusually detailed and well-cast example, with an attractive aged patina.

Shiva dances within a ring of flames, symbolising the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. Beneath his feet lies Apasmara, the dwarf-like figure who represents ignorance and spiritual forgetfulness. Shiva's dance over Apasmara represents the overcoming of ignorance and the path towards spiritual knowledge.

The Nataraja form is particularly associated with the Chidambaram Temple in Tamil Nadu, where Shiva is worshipped as the cosmic dancer. The flowing hair, multiple arms, rhythmic pose and surrounding flames combine movement with remarkable balance.

The sculpture follows the tradition established during the Chola period (c. 9th–13th centuries), when South Indian bronze casting reached an exceptional level of refinement. Chola bronzes were traditionally produced using the lost-wax casting process, in which a detailed wax model was encased in a mould, the wax melted away and molten metal poured into the resulting cavity. As the mould was broken to release the finished casting, each sculpture was individually produced.

• Origin: South India
• Date: Late 20th century
• Materials: Bronze
• Features: Shiva as Nataraja; ring of flames; Apasmara beneath Shiva's feet; Chola-style detailing; lost-wax style casting
• Condition: Good vintage condition with natural surface wear and patination
• Dimensions: W70 × D27 × H91 cm
• Weight: 27.6 kg