When you're in the antique business long enough, one touch of a piece, and you know whether it's hand tooled or machine tooled, whether the patina on it is real or chemically faked, and whether the piece itself has the right heft to be the antique it purports to be.
Make no mistake, this is an authentic, antique, solid brass Hindu Goddess, hand tooled, and beautifully executed by a craftsman who is likely long forgotten. It is not a large piece, but it is a thoroughly beautiful piece, and one that would make a wonderful addition to any collection.
The patina on the piece is just right, the feel of it is as it ought to be, and all in all it's a piece that can't be overlooked even though it only stands at 5" in height.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate.