Vintage Bronze Elephant-Headed God of Wealth, Japan

This vintage Japanese “bronze elephant-headed god of wealth” is a bronze collector's piece full of historical depth and the beauty of religious art. The elephant god (Ganesha) is revered in Eastern cultures as the “remover of obstacles” and a “god of wealth,” and in Japanese Buddhism and folk belief often appears in the form of Kangiten. The most captivating detail of this figure is its layered verdigris (patina), interwoven in lighter and deeper tones. This is not something applied paint can imitate, but the trace of metal slowly coexisting with air and moisture over long years, as if decades of quiet time were condensed into a small space. The deity is shown four-armed in a dancing pose; the ritual implements in its hands and the lively curve of its trunk trace, within the archaic bronze, a strength that is both firm and supple.

Price NT$ 3,500 ≈ US$ 110(Approximate amount; actual prices are in New Taiwan Dollars)
Dimensions
L 6.5 × W 6.5 × H 17.5 cm
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Features

1. Natural verdigris formed over the years

The surface of this Ganesha figure is covered with an uneven blue-green layer of oxidation, known among antique dealers as copper bloom. A colour like this can only form through decades of slow reaction between the metal and its surroundings; it is plain in feel and slightly granular. It is not only evidence of time but also lends the figure a mysterious, dignified air, as though it had long lain deep in the earth.

2. A lively and dignified artistic form

The figure is shown dancing with four arms, holding the classic attributes, its long trunk curled elegantly. Its sense of movement is balanced by a steady base, and the modelling of the muscles and the ornaments reads all the deeper against the verdigris. At 17.5 cm it is a comfortable weight, well suited to a desk shrine or to display.

3. Remover of obstacles, source of wisdom

The elephant head on a human body stands for great wisdom and the power to clear away every difficulty. The figure trodden underfoot at the base signifies the subduing of worldly troubles. This is a soul object, one that brings its owner calm of mind and inspiration in their work.

Specifications

Dimensions L 6.5 × W 6.5 × H 17.5 cm