Ca. 19th century antique Thai style bronze seated Ganesha. The distinctive patina of the piece is particularly delightful. Ganesha is the elephant headed son of Shiva. He holds his broken tusk in one hand. Similar to Krishna Ganesha celebrates life through it's pleasures and beauty. The halo behind Ganesha symbolises his divinity. This can be removed from the sculpture. The direction of Ganesha's trunk has symbolic meaning. Here the trunk turns to Ganesha's left. This signifies the direction for success in the world. It is a position associated with grihastas, or householders. In his early forms in India, Ganesha was associated with fertility. Later he became widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles, patron of arts and sciences and the deity of intellect and wisdom.