German Shiva

Porcelain Shiva made in Germany, most probably by B. Rigold & Bergmann. Shiva is shown in a seated position, with protective cobras on each shoulder and above his head. Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism.
The company B. Rigold & Bergmann (1895-1916), was listed in 1910 as a merchant and commission agent with offices in London as well as Calcutta and Bombay. One possible reason for how Indian religious porcelain figures were produced in Germany may be connected to the country's invention of the technique of lithographic printing in the late 18th century. This German printing technique took immediate roots in India, with Indian artists and publishers getting lithographs and oleographs of their works printed there. The Germans exported a large number of prints of Indian themes as well as printing ink and machinery to India. This might have encouraged local German producers of porcelain to produce similar themes in ceramics, but equally, these may have been ordered by Indians. Whichever way, this a fascinating combination of subject and technique from different countries coming together.