Antique Indian Garuda Ghanta – Hindu Puja Hand Bell, Bronze, South India, 19th Century
CHF 320.00
Antique Indian hand bell (Sanskrit: ghanta / घण्टा), used in Hindu puja ritual to invoke the deity and to dispel inauspicious influences during worship. The cast bronze body shows the classic ghanta silhouette: a wide, gently flaring skirt, a stepped shoulder, and a turned baluster handle with rhythmically stacked rings, terminating in a sculptural finial.
The finial depicts Garuda, the eagle-like vahana (mount) of the god Vishnu, kneeling with both hands joined to the chest in Añjali Mudrā, the gesture of devotion. Bells crowned with Garuda are specifically associated with Vishnuite worship and are known as Garuda Ghanta. Pierced openwork in the lower body of the figure is characteristic of the type.
Hand-cast in the lost-wax (cire perdue) technique. Visible traces of reddish core/clay residue inside the openwork of the figure confirm the traditional hand-casting method and are typical of authentic period pieces. The surface carries a warm, dark, naturally grown bronze patina with softened contours from long ritual handling – not the sharp, glossy finish of modern reproductions.
Most likely South Indian origin (Tamil Nadu / Kerala / Karnataka region), datable to the 19th or early 20th century. The bell still produces a clear, sustained tone when struck.
A characterful, iconographically clean example for collectors of Indian ritual bronzes, Asian sacred art, or sound-producing antiques.
Condition
The finial depicts Garuda, the eagle-like vahana (mount) of the god Vishnu, kneeling with both hands joined to the chest in Añjali Mudrā, the gesture of devotion. Bells crowned with Garuda are specifically associated with Vishnuite worship and are known as Garuda Ghanta. Pierced openwork in the lower body of the figure is characteristic of the type.
Hand-cast in the lost-wax (cire perdue) technique. Visible traces of reddish core/clay residue inside the openwork of the figure confirm the traditional hand-casting method and are typical of authentic period pieces. The surface carries a warm, dark, naturally grown bronze patina with softened contours from long ritual handling – not the sharp, glossy finish of modern reproductions.
Most likely South Indian origin (Tamil Nadu / Kerala / Karnataka region), datable to the 19th or early 20th century. The bell still produces a clear, sustained tone when struck.
A characterful, iconographically clean example for collectors of Indian ritual bronzes, Asian sacred art, or sound-producing antiques.
Condition
Condition notes
Good age-related condition. Even, undisturbed dark bronze patina overall. Minor casting irregularities and openwork voids in the figure are inherent to the lost-wax process. Traces of original red core material visible inside the finial. No cracks, no repairs detected. Functional – clapper present, bell rings cleanly.
ghanta
garuda ghanta
puja bell
hindu ritual bell
indian bronze
south indian bronze
vishnu
garuda