Indo Islamic Style Deepalakshmi

This is a Deccan, cast and engraved, brass Indo-Islamic style Deepalakshmi from North Karnataka. Deepa means ‘light’ and Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth, fortune, love, beauty, joy and prosperity. The figure holds a leaf-shaped oil well or wick pan. Her hair is pulled back and falls down her back in a plait. She is adorned with engraved earrings, bangles and necklaces. The style of dress is possibly Gujarati or Rajasthani. She stands on a brass plinth that has an architectural arch similar to those seen in Mughal architecture of the time. This piece is a shining example of the wonderful confluence of styles that happened in the Deccan. The figure unscrews into two pieces, to make it portable and easier to clean.