Mahasona

Description

Sri Lankan folklore demon Mahasona as an imposing, hyper-muscular humanoid figure standing in a dominant, wide-legged stance. His beast-like head features a roaring expression with unhinged jaws, sharp teeth, and a protruding tongue, framed by large disc earrings and a wildly textured mane cascading down his back. In his raised right hand, he hoists a small elephant by its hindquarters, while his left hand grips a tall, ornate spear with a twisted shaft and a leaf-shaped blade. The figure is heavily adorned in an intricate, studded chest harness, multi-layered necklaces, heavy armbands, and a deeply pleated dhoti secured by a jewelled waist belt. Standing beneath him between his feet is a tusked wild boar, mirroring the folklore of his mount, while the entire piece rests on a circular pedestal carved with a continuous frieze of demonic faces. The artwork is rendered in an antique, burnished bronze finish, utilizing a deep patina in the recesses to sharply contrast with the high-gloss metallic sheen on the musculature and decorative details.