Tribal Sculpture of the Tree of Life

An unusual tribal sculpture from India with several figures resting on a stylised tree.

Nineteen human figures are either climbing or resting on this representation of the Tree of life, an extraordinary Indian tribal sculpture made by the lost wax process. Men & women are holding hands, possibly making love, sitting & reclining on the upper branches that take the form of a circle - a motif that resembles Shiva dancing in a circle of fire.

Below the circle people are climbing and waiting to climb the tree trunk while others sit on the branches.

The top & bottom half are separate, the top slots into the top of the trunk. The material is brass although the rough finish is a blackish brown colour.

This style of work is typical of Odisha (Orissa), a state with a rich tribal tradition inland from the Bay of Bengal on the eastern coast of India.

Read our blog about the lost wax process.

Dimension: H50 W25 10cm