Page 99 - Sporer Collection of Himalayan bronzes

50
A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF INDRA
NEPAL, 17TH CENTURY

Standing on an openwork circular base
with lotus petals and inscription, his right
hand in varadamudra and the left holding
the stem of a full lotus blossoming at his
shoulder, the body fnely modeled and clad
in a closely ftted dhoti and pendant sash, the
chest adorned with beaded jewelry, the hair
crowned with a broad tiara centered by a
rosette, and the face with fnely delineated
features in a gentle expression, surmounted
by a faming nimbus
8æ in. (22.2 cm.) high

$25,000-35,000

PROVENANCE:

The Sporer Collection, New Jersey,
acquired between 1962 and 1985

PUBLISHED:

Himalayan Art Resource (himalayanart.org),
item no. 24065

Indra is generally identifed by three iconographic
features: a broad fan-shaped crown, a horizontal
eye on the forehead and a vajra, which is
often resting on a lotus blossom next to his
left shoulder. Here Indra is depicted in a rarer
standing position atop an open-work lotus-
base. Compare the base with that of the donor
fgure (lot 46), which has very similar open-
work, as well as an inscription that spans the
circumference of the base.

THE SPORER COLLECTION OF HIMALAYAN SCULPTURE 97