In the variety of the designs, in the excellence of the cast and the rich colouring which gives to the article a gold-like luster, Benaras brassware has not been surpassed by any other town in India.
Though all sculptures are three-dimensional, but this one is unique in that the rear side is not part of the whole. It is an individual sculpture by itself but here it reflects the innermost dream of the protagonist. The frontal part of this piece displays Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, with his ten heads; they are symbolic of ten minds' intelligence put together. The faces are identical, but the long, ornate crowns are different. The artist has used them to exhibit his skill at intricate carving.
The rear side, which is a convex to the ten heads, holds the image of a lying woman, depicting what goes in the mind of Ravana. The curvaceous figure is well modeled, resting on her right arm, while the left one casually rests on her thigh. Intricate jewellery and a designed lower garment look stupendous. The image is like that of a yakshi, with perfect feminine attributes but some would connect the image to that of Sita for she was foremost on Ravana's mind.
This description by Renu Rana.
Click Here to View the Reverse of This Sculpture.
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