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A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF DURGA MAHISHASURAMARDINI A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF ARDHANARISHVARA
NEPAL, 15TH CENTURY NEPAL, 15TH CENTURY
The eighteen-armed Durga striding in alidhasana, clad in a dhoti and Standing in a frontal position with eight hands holding ritual
wearing necklaces and earrings inlaid with hardstones, the face with a implements, wearing a dhoti with a pleated central sash, a jeweled belt
downcast expression topped with tall chignon secured with a foliate at his waist, adorned with the sacred thread and jewelry including a
tiara, holding various weapons in her hands including the trident necklace centered with a hardstone, foral armlets, long disc earrings
which pierces the buffalo demon Mahisha underneath her left leg, her and a crown
right leg atop her lion, the severed buffalo head resting in-between 2√ in. (7.5 cm.) high
6¿ in. (15.5 cm.) high
$4,000-6,000
$10,000-15,000
PROVENANCE:
PROVENANCE:
The Sporer Collection, New Jersey, acquired between 1962 and 1985
The Sporer Collection, New Jersey, acquired in London,
21 October 1976 PUBLISHED:
PUBLISHED: Himalayan Art Resource (himalayanart.org), item no. 24030
Himalayan Art Resource (himalayanart.org), item no. 24029 Shiva, in his half-male, half-female form, is known as Ardhanarishvara.
This unique depiction represents the inseparability of male and female,
44 THE SPORER COLLECTION OF HIMALAYAN SCULPTURE signifying the duality of the created world and the perfect unity of the
divine.
