Heramba Ganapati Panchamukha Five-Headed Ganesha in manner of Kathmandu Valley

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Description


Silvered Bronze Heramba Ganapati (Panchamukha / Five-Headed Ganesha), Late 20th Century
South Asia; Himalayan/Nepal-influenced workshop, in the manner of Kathmandu Valley (Newar) metalwork

Overview
Offered is a substantial, museum-scale silvered bronze depicting Heramba Ganapati—the rarer five-headed iconographic form of Ganesha, described as particularly popular in Nepal and important within Tantric worship traditions. The sculpture is consciously archaistic, combining dense ornament, emphatic gesture, and a bright silvered surface intended to present strongly under display lighting.

�� Identification and iconography
Heramba Ganapati is a five-headed manifestation of Ganesha. The name is traditionally glossed as meaning the protector of the weak/helpless, aligning the form with heightened protection and guardianship.

This work presents the key connoisseur indicators:
Panchamukha (five elephant heads) with crowned, jeweled headdresses
Multi-armed configuration with ritual implements and blessing/protection gestures
Dynamic, dance-like stance that creates strong “in-motion” presence

Historical significance
Ganesha’s importance in the Hindu world is exceptionally broad: he is classically understood as the elephant-headed god of beginnings, traditionally worshipped before any major enterprise, and widely regarded as a remover of obstacles; he is also linked to learning and intellectual pursuits. Within that larger devotional framework, Heramba holds a distinct place as a more explicitly protective expression of Ganapati. Iconographic sources emphasise (1) Heramba’s five-headed form, (2) his prominence in Nepal, and (3) his relevance in Tantric practice.

For Nepal specifically, museum scholarship notes that Ganesha is revered by both Hindu and Buddhist communities, and in Buddhist contexts his image may be positioned at temple entrances alongside major protective figures—evidence of the deity’s cross-community role as a guardian and auspicious threshold presence.

�� Craft tradition and attribution (maker / “in the manner of”)
The sculpture is unsigned (no maker’s mark observed),Himalayan/Nepal-influenced workshop production, in the manner of Kathmandu Valley (Newar) metalwork. This attribution is supported by the widely documented fact that the lost-wax technique of hollow metal casting, associated with Newar sculptural production in the Kathmandu Valley, has remained a thriving practice into the modern era.

Date Late 20th century (catalogue date, as requested).
Institutional collecting context (category credibility)
Comparable Nepalese/Himalayan Ganesha bronzes appear in major museum collections, underlining the established connoisseur market for this subject and medium—for example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds a Kathmandu Valley Ganesha with detailed technical and devotional context.


Why you’ll love it
Iconographic distinction: Heramba is explicitly documented as a five-headed form, especially associated with Nepal and protective Tantric devotion.
High-impact presence: museum-scale proportions and dynamic modelling create an immediate focal point in a curated interior
Credible craft positioning: appropriately catalogued in the manner of Kathmandu Valley Newar casting traditions.

Provenance
From the “Famous Lord Hill Museum” collection & curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Dimensions & Weight
Height 31.5 cm | Width 21 cm | Depth 11 cm | Weight approx. 4.5 kg
Silvered finish over cast bronze; unsigned.

Condition
Offered in fine used condition, with honest patina and surface wear (scratches/marks) commensurate with age and handling, consistent with the intended archaistic character.

Shipping & collection
Worldwide delivery: available via eBay Global Shipping Programme (GSP)—you send the item to the UK Shipping Centre and eBay manages international postage and customs process for eligible transactions.





Reserve: $5,320.00

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