SOLD Boat with Hindu Gods Pala Museum Piece 37"

This piece is a direct copy of a Pala period piece in the Dhaka museum in Bangladesh considered to be a masterwork of Pala bronze.  The sculpture is a wealth of figures and artistry.  In total there are 12 figures which are individually made and able to viewed 360 degrees around.  From the back to front are two women, and a turtle.  One of the women holds the body of the dead king and is offering it to the other.  Narasimha killing the demon King Hiranyakashipu.  Durga with ten arms raised sitting on her vehicle the lion.  Two cobras, a symbol of Shiva surrounding a Shiva lingam.  And lastly Shiva sitting with his guardian, the white bull, Nandi.

The front of the boat is magnificent.  The torso of a woman is stretched out holding a conch.  The conch represents "Om", the first sound of creation and also the beginning of matter, since sound and matter are consider to be synonymous.   The head of the boat is a mythical animal with the nose of an elephant and the head of a bird with a fish half way into it's mouth.

An interesting story about this piece:  While exporting bronze pieces from Bangladesh there is along process where you must get the approval from the archeological department saying that the bronze pieces are not antiques and can be let out of the country.  It is illegal to smuggle antiques from Bangladesh.  The archaeological department spent a lot of time looking over this piece.  They all agreed it was not antique yet because the pose is so unique to Bangladesh, it being a direct copy of a piece in the museum in Dhaka, they were unsure as to if they should let it out of Bangladesh.  After a brief discussion they agreed that it could be let out of Bangladesh and brought to America.