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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 380371, member: 2844&quot;]Yes, it is Balinese, carved from coromandel wood, probably between 1960-1980. </p><p>There is still Art Deco influence, especially in the shaping of the kain, or wrapped skirt, and the way the two kain shawls drop down into the base.</p><p><br /></p><p>The crown is the crown of a deity, with that little turret on top. But your elegant lady is a man in disguise.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/wink.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=";)" unselectable="on" /> She features in one of the great Hindu epics, the Mahabharata.</p><p>One chapter of the epic is how the Devas, divine beings, had part of their power stolen from them. This power is commonly referred to as immortality, but is actually higher knowledge and wisdom. In order to regain their power they had to drink Amrita, the nectar of immortality.</p><p>I will spare you the complicated details of how they obtained Amrita, but when they did, their rivals the Asuras took it.</p><p>In order to take the Amrita from the Asuras, Vishnu, being a clever Deva/deity, assumed the form of the essence of feminine beauty and grace. This was either an illusion or a disguise. He managed to enchant the Asuras into giving him the Amrita. This is how he is depicted here, a very graceful young lady, holding the vessel containing Amrita.</p><p>In Hinduism this illusion by Vishnu is generally called Mohini. She appears in other myths as well, using the essence of femininity to fight demons and other &#039;unwanted elements&#039;.</p><p>In Bali most people would call her Dewi, just like the supreme female deity. That is also correct, Vishnu could not have accomplished the illusion without Dewi&#039;s help in using part of her divine femininity.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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