A Vintage South Indian Golu Figure: Goddess Laskshmi

mid twentieth century
9 1/4" x 3" x 2 1/2", 23.5 cm x 7.5 cm x 6.5 cm

This good-sized, beautifully rendered and painted molded figure is what is called in South India a golu or kolu.

These figures--and there were many gods and goddesses depicted in the form of golu--were set out in traditional home displays in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh during the nine night Hindu festival called Navratri. This year Navaratri begins on 20 September and lasts until the 30th.

This golu depicts the goddess Lakshmi who is shown draped in a richly colored red sari and adorned with heavy golden necklaces and a gold girdle. A beautifully tall, ornate headdress crowns her head. She stands upright, holding two lotus blooms in two of her four hands.

Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, abundance and well-being and is the consort of Lord Vishnu, one of Hinduism's three central aspects of god.

As can be easily seen on the accompanying detail photographs, this golu shows a good deal of wear and patina; the back of Lakshmi's proper right, upper elbow is chipped away. 

A beautifully, soulful and collectible image of the goddess Lakshmi with a good deal of age.