Page 54 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art September 2013

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A red sandstone figure of a female attendant
Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan, 8th/9th century
Sensuously modeled and standing in tribhanga, with a diaphanous
dhoti tied over her voluptuous waist, adorned with a necklace and a
sash draped over her elbows, her face with a sweet expression and her
hair tied in a bun.
15 3/4 in. (40.1 cm) high
$2,500 - 3,500

Compare the close likeness of figures standing at the bottom of a temple
door frame in see Desai & Mason (ed.), Gods, Guardians, and Lovers, New
York, 1993, no. 51, pp.226-7).

Exhibited:
Birmingham Museum, Alabama, 2010-3 (537.2010).

Provenance:
Collection of Dr. Alston and Eivor Callahan, Alabama, acquired from Spink
& Son, London, 17 January 1986
Collection of Dr. Mike and Mrs. Teresa Callahan, Alabama, acquired
by inheritance

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A red sandstone carving of a female attendant
Central India, circa 8th/9th century
Standing a slightly flexed pose flanked by narrow columns, the female
looks slightly down and to her right, she holds a floral tribute in her
upraised hand and her left hand holds a scarf end by her thigh, carved
with full rounded breasts divided by a beaded tassels falling form her
jeweled necklace, her lower diaphanous garment is secured by a thick belt
issuing jeweled swags that fall across her thighs, outside the column the
panel carved in low relief with twisting vines below vyalas.
18 in. (45.7 cm) high
$6,000 - 8,000

Provenance:
Private Northern Californian Collection, acquired in 1960s

70
A red sandstone stele of Vishnu
Uttar Pradesh, Post-­Gupta Period, 7th/8th century
Standing with his principle right hand raised in the gesture of assurance
and the others holding his mace, chakra and conch, wearing a short dhoti
and adorned with a large foliate garland, the scared chord and various
jewelry, his face of classic stylized form surmounted by the mitre and locks
of hair spilling over his shoulders, back by a nimbus with lotus blossoms
and flanked by male and female chauyri bearers.
29 1/4 in. (74.3 cm) high
$20,000 - 30,000

As noted by Desai & Mason in discussion of a similar, later stele in the
Frank C. Russek Collection, fly whisks are indicative of royalty in India and
the attendants here emphasize the ultimate royal stature of the principal
figure (see Desai & Mason (ed.), Gods, Guardians, and Lovers, New York,
1993, no. 70, p. 262).

Exhibited:
Birmingham Museum, Alabama, 2010-3 (533.2010).

Provenance:
Collection of Dr. Alston and Eivor Callahan, Alabama, acquired from Spink
& Son, London, 17 January 1986
Collection of Dr. Mike and Mrs. Teresa Callahan, Alabama, acquired by
inheritance

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