Imported Gods!

By Nalinaksha Sanyal
Posted on 2008-09-07
After imported chocolates and sneakers, guess what they’re branding now? The Hindutva faction could do a bit of sabre rattling on this one, because it’s the turn of our gods (and our culture) that’s getting a phoren makeover. Indian mythological figures and gods are being fashioned in porcelain, brass, silver and crystal by foreign art experts and are being sold in India by leading international brands.
The passion for collecting expensive “Gods” is fast catching on among Indian connoisseurs. The greatest charm about these figurines of gods is that they are all limited editions and once these are sold out, no identical figurine will come of the international firms and these limited edition pieces cost a fortune, because serious collectors would go to any length to buy them. Most collectors agree that the value of these rare pieces could appreciate anything from five to twenty times in the matter of five years. Naturally, prices are quite high - starting from Rs 15,000-20,000 for the small two to six inches tall crystal figures that the famous firm of Daum now makes, and going up to Rs 2 to three lakhs for brands of Lalique and Baccarat.
And given rising incomes and a neo-religious upsurge among the Gen X, there’s no dearth of buyers. The market reported a 200 per cent year-on-year growth for Lladro the famous Spanish porcelain firm, in India. For their Lakshmi, Lladro had a more than three-months-long waiting list, which means bookings for the 400 or so idols set aside for India (of the 2,000 figurines in this edition) was as good as sold. Not just that, being collectibles, art experts say that there’s a thriving market for a range after it has been retired by the company. “The Ganesha priced at Rs 69,000 in 2002 is quoting at Rs 10 lakhs.” states the Indian CEO of the Lladros.
Ganesha figurines made out of crystal/porcelain/silver/brass are the most popular, as Indian businessmen, at large, generally have a special fascination for Ganesha, because he is a god of success and prosperity. But people in the field of art, culture and letters too worship Lord Ganesha as the siddhidata (giver of success). There are international Ganesha collectors, indophiles, people with a long interest in India and Indian objects. When it comes to silver, Linea Argenti in Italy is the manufacturer of its vast cast-silver range of Ganeshas, Saraswatis, Durgas, Ram Durbars and Balaji (recently introduced), crafted in sterling silver available in amber and emerald colours, each an edition of 250 pieces. This Ganesha masterpiece is 56 cm in height, studded with swarosvki crystals. Price 60 thousand rupees. The Radha-Krishna in immaculately handcrafted sterling silver and a beautifully embellished glass backdrop on a beaded wooden base. Rs. 46,265.
In porcelain Ganeshas and Lakshmis, the firm of Lladro has always been leading, although the German firm of Ormolu is giving it very good competition. Lladro has been making Hindu deities for the past ten years now, having come up with its first Ganesha in 2002. The company had been getting requests for such manifestations of Indian mythology and culture since 1990 but was scared to get into it for fear of offending religious sensibilities. As it turned out, Lladro needn’t have feared. Over the years, the Lladro in India has had Radha-Krishna, little Kanhaiyan, the cow, two yoga postures, and variations of Ganesha - a dancing one, and another playing the damroo. Lladro’s price varies from Rs 2,500 to Rs 18 lakh. But it is in marketing crystal Ganeshas that there is maximum competition with the famous crystal firms of Lalique/Baccaarat/Dumas turning out a number of exquisite figurines. May the union between crystals, a source of positive energy and the symbol of Lord Ganesh bring good fortune to whom will possess this piece of art! MF