Page 56 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art September 2013

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A red sandstone figure of Shiva
72 Central India, circa 9th century
54 | Bonhams Standing in tribhangha pose with Nandi in stride behind him, holding
the shaft of his trident with his right hand and prayer beads with his left
upraised, adorned with beaded necklace and large pendant earrings
flanking a well-defined face with proud expression surmounted by a
crown with central jewel and unkempt hair in exaggerated curls.
16 1/2 in. (41.8 cm) high
$3,000 - 5,000

Provenance:
Private Pittsburgh Collection
Sotheby’s, New York, 26 March 1999, lot 116

72
A buff sandstone figure of Shiva Bhikshatana
Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan, circa 10th century
Finely carved, standing in a swayed posture next to his stray dog with
crisply defined paws and naked but for raised sandals, garland, and
festooned jewelry, a shrivatsa mark at the center of his chest, his face with
a healthy beard and wide eyes below curved brows and surmounted by
his unkempt curls secured with a headband.
19 1/2 in. (49.5 cm) high
$6,000 - 8,000

The elegantly modeled sculpture depicts Shiva as Supreme Beggar, the
Lord of Ascetics, standing next to the remnants of his stray dog which
he is often depicted feeding, such as at the Annamalaiyar Temple in
Tamil Nadu. Shiva assumes this form of Bhairava to atone for severing
Brahma’s fifth head, which he wanders and collects alms with until his
sin is expiated upon reaching the holy city of Varanasi. More popular
in South India, the present lot is a rare example of the subject from
the North. The piece compares favorably to another with attendant
dog in the British Museum (1962,1017.1). For three examples of
South Indian images, see The Huntington Archive (scan nos. 0023154,
0022521 & 0022924).

Exhibited:
Birmingham Museum, Alabama, 2010-3 (523.2010).

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

73
A sandstone stele of Shiva Bhairava
Rajasthan, 9th/10th century
Standing under an arch of makaras and kirtimukha and flanked by
shikhara-topped columns, the terrifying aspect of Shiva in a flexed pose
holding a skull staff, drum, and a skull cup, with Ganga standing at right
on the back of a makara with an apsara above.
38 in. (96.5 cm) high
$10,000 - 15,000

Compare the treatment of the necklace, triple-band belt and girdle
on a figure of Isana (Shiva-Rudra) published in Agarwal, North Indian
Temple Sculpture, Delhi, 1995, fig. 58. The stele would have initially
been part of a door jam with Yamuna on the opposing side. For
related examples, see Sotheby’s, New York, 16 & 17 March 1998, lot
31 and 5 December 1992, lot 89.

Provenance:
Lyon Family Collection, Los Angeles
Acquired from William Wolff, New York, 5 May 1971, as noted on
original receipt