The Goddess of Wealth

Artifact Details

Estimated Period: Mid-20th Century (circa 1940s–1970s)
Publisher: Ravi Varma Press, Karla (Lonavla), India
Provenance: Formerly housed in a merchant residence, Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu)
Medium: Chromolithograph (Oleograph) on Paper
Intervention: Hand-Embellished (Sequins & Textile Appliqué)

This oleograph follows the popular Ravi Varma Press devotional style that shaped domestic Hindu imagery throughout the 20th century.

The print depicts Goddess Lakshmi standing upon the lotus, flanked by elephants (Gaja Lakshmi form), symbolising prosperity, continuity, and auspicious abundance.

Unlike standard press reproductions, this example has been hand-embellished with textile appliqué and sequins applied to the saree and jewellery. Such additions were common in domestic shrines, where families personalised mass-produced prints to enhance devotional presence.

Material & Condition

The chromolithographic base shows age-related toning and fading consistent with mid-century paper prints. The applied embellishments remain largely intact, with minor losses and thread wear visible upon close inspection. The layered contrast between printed pigment and applied textile elements reflects extended devotional display.

Curatorial Note

This piece illustrates the transition of commercially produced devotional imagery into personalised shrine objects through domestic intervention.

It represents not only print culture, but lived ritual adaptation.

Status: Available for acquisition - enquiries welcome