Garoeda figurine executed in bronze.
Dimensions: width 23 cm, height 16 cm, the base measures 7 x 7 cm.
Garoeda or Garuda is a deity within Hinduism, part human, part eagle. He is primarily depicted as the riding animal (vahana) of the god Vishnu. The Garudas also constitute a class of gods (or supernatural beings) in Buddhism and Hinduism. Myths about Garuda are widespread in southern Asia; Thailand and Indonesia have the creature as a national symbol.
Garoeda is the national symbol of Thailand and is the central element in the coat of arms of Indonesia. In the Indonesian coat of arms, he has seventeen feathers on each wing, eight tail feathers, nineteen feathers above the tail and 45 neck feathers. Together they represent the day the Indonesians declared independence: Aug. 17 (the eighth month) 1945.Due to the age of this figurine, patina has formed.