A Superbly Carved Sandalwood Ganesh from Jasailmer

When we travel to collect pieces, we shop with a very discerning eye. There is a vast multitude of shlocky handicrafts around that no doubt, please the casual tourists just looking for souvenirs. But as art collectors we are always looking out for the best examples of a particular medium. We passed over literally dozens of sandalwood carvings (or supposedly “sandalwood” carvings, as we'll explain...) when last in India, but this one along with very few others, caught our attention due to its superior workmanship. The carving is very crisp and detailed with a lot of minute work. In addition, with genuine sandalwood becoming increasingly scarce and expensive, the latest con for the unwary tourist is to be sold a carving on a non-aromatic imitation of sandalwood, that has merely been scented with sandalwood oil.... But this piece is guaranteed to be genuine sandalwood, and has never been – and never needs to be - "tarted up" with any oils.

Size and Condition: 13 3/4 inches tall, 4 1/2 inches wide, 3 inches deep. Perfect condition.