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Chola bronze

South Asia tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: $1M+ (trophy / museum grade)

The period of the imperial Cholas (c. 850 CE – 1250 CE) in South India was an age of continuous improvement and refinement of Chola art and architecture. They utilised the wealth earned through their extensive conquests in building long-lasting stone temples and exquisite bronze sculptures, in an almost exclusively Dravidian cultural setting. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Nataraja, Shiva as the Lord of Dance
Nataraja, Shiva as the Lord of Dance, 1000s
Cleveland Museum of Art
Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja)
Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), Chola period, about 10th/11th century
Art Institute of Chicago
Dancing God Shiva (Natesha)
Dancing God Shiva (Natesha), 10th/11th century
Art Institute of Chicago
God Shiva and Goddess Uma Seated with their Son, Skanda (Somaskanda)
God Shiva and Goddess Uma Seated with their Son, Skanda (Somaskanda), Vijayanagar period, about 1400
Art Institute of Chicago
Standing Buddha with Left Hand in Gift Giving Gesture (varadamudra)
Standing Buddha with Left Hand in Gift Giving Gesture (varadamudra), Chola period (c. 855-1279), about 11th century
Art Institute of Chicago

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.