Beautiful pair of early 20th century Thai Bronze Kinnara / kinnari statues.
The Kinnara are much beloved part human, part bird and part celestial musicians from Hindu mythology who come from the Himalayas and watch over humans in times of danger. The wings are said to aid allow the Kinara to fly between the mystical world and the spirit world. Believed to come from the Himalayas, they often watch over the wellbeing of humans in times of trouble or danger. An ancient Indian string instrument is known as the Kinnari vina. Their character is clarified in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, where they say:
We are everlasting lover and beloved. We never separate. We are eternally husband and wife; never do we become mother and father. No offspring is seen in our lap. We are lover and beloved ever-embracing. In between us we do not permit any third creature demanding affection. Our life is a life of perpetual pleasures.[1]
The statues would have been made using the loss wax method where the subject is first sculpted from wax, a clay mould is then made around the wax, the wax removed and replace with molten bronze.
Well made sculptures with lovely patina, some age related wear & tarnishing to be expected but no signs of major damage or repair.