Page 105 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art March 2016 New York

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A SANDSTONE STELE OF A DIKPALA
Rajasthan, Kota region, 9th/10th century
Upheld by ganas underfoot and accompanied by
male attendants and his bull mount, the directional
guardian stands in tribhanga, holding a water pot,
and the remains of a lotus stem and cobra.
44 1/4 in. (112.4 cm) high
$30,000 - 50,000
Indicated by his mount and attributes, the sculpture
probably represents Ishana: Shiva in ethereal form,
symbolizing transcendental knowledge. Prescribed
in the vastu shastras (lit. ‘science of dwelling’),
Ishana is the guardian of the northeast direction and
personifies the confluence of wealth and knowledge
associated with the north and east, respectively.
The figure is technically accomplished, conveying
both suppleness and gravity. The crisply carved
regalia also contrast against soft contours,
producing a well-balanced aesthetic redolent of the
ancient Uparamala region encompassing modern-
day Kota. Compare sculptures from the same,
published in Mason, Gods, Guardians, and Lovers,
New York, 1993, pp. 153 & 236-9, nos. 8, 58 & 59.
Provenance
Christie’s, New York, 22 March 2000, lot 31
Private American Collection

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