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Cast Iron Indian Game with Rider and Horses

Offered by: Vintage Domus Srl

Description
Welded cast iron toy from the Indian 900s depicting a chariot with a square canopy and conical dome. We can identify this toy-statue as a depiction of Krishna’s Rath Gita (Bhagavad Gita).
Arjuna and Hanuman actually met on a first occasion, in which Arjuna helped the monkey-god, a manifestation of Shiva, with his wits, advising him to build a bridge of arrows instead of stones. After that, Hanuman, Rama's proud lieutenant, recognized the identity between Krishna and Rama, both of whom are in fact avatars of the god Vishnu, and promised to help Arjuna when the need arose.
Krishna in this particular circumstance is called Hrisikesam, the one who controls the senses. The senses are often compared to untamed horses, and Krishna in the Gita is the one who drives the chariot, who subdues the horses, closing the metaphor.
Arjuna has Krishna, or Vishnu, on his side as an adviser and Hanuman, or Shiva, as a military force; he has the greatest power imaginable on his side.

The chariot has a rectangular base, is supported by four wheels attached to it and is drawn by three horses also supported by four wheels. In Hindu tradition, the horse is linked to the figure Varuna and as such is equated with the cosmos; in addition, the white horse is thought to be the last incarnation of Vishnu.
Symbology: It is a symbol of power, grace, beauty, nobility, strength and freedom. The meaning of the horse symbol has spread to most cultures and is always related to life force, even many cultures assign attributes to the horse belonging to the 4 elements: earth, fire, water and wind
Once man was able to tame it, the horse entered human history, becoming a symbol of reverence and honour: this beautiful animal began to serve man in battles, farm work and travel.

More Information

Origin:	India
Period:	1900-1919
Materials:	Iron
Condition:	Good. Wear consistent with age and use. In good condition, light wear and tear such as scratches and small abrasions.
Styles / Movements:	Indian, Traditional
Incollect Reference #:	730004

Dimensions

W.	16.15 in;	H.	18.51 in;	D.	12.21 in;
W.	41.02 cm;	H.	47.02 cm;	D.	31.01 cm;

Shipping Information:

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Message from Seller:

Vintage Domus' diverse collection ranges from the early 20th century to the 1990s to collectibles, showcasing exquisite examples of design from every era. In addition to early design, we offer antique furniture, tribal art, oriental art, photography, advertising, and movie posters. Our main focus is on interior design - lighting, furniture, decor and accessories.