Page 61 - 2021 March 16th Indian, Himalayan and Tibetan Art, Bonhams NYC New York

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A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF ADIKARA NANDI
TAMIL NADU, NAYAK PERIOD, 17TH CENTURY
20 in. (50.8 cm) high
$30,000 - 50,000

With his primary hands in anjali mudra and his secondary hands
holding an antelope (mrga) and a battle-axe (parasu), this crisply-
detailed casting represents Adhikara Nandi, a form of Shiva’s bull
mount. He wears a short lower garment secured at his waist with an
elaborate jeweled girdle, and his hair is arranged in a tall jatamukuta.

Closely related examples of an eight-armed Virabhadra and a four-
armed Kankalamurti in the Madras Government Museum share
similar coiffures, facial types, trailing tassels, and projecting scarf ends
(Srinivasan, Bronzes of South India, Madras, 1963, pl.CXCIV, nos.336
& 337). Also compare a large sculpture of Adhikara Nandi from
Thanjavur preserved in the same museum (634/68).

Provenance
Xanadu Gallery, San Francisco, 9 August 2003
Private Collection, California

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