Page 378 - Chinese Art Auction April 25, 2020 2020 Galerie Zacke

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The suN gOd suRyA, bRONZe, chOlA PeRIOd
India, Tamil Nadu, late 12th-13th century. The Vedic deity Surya stands
on an oval plinth and is clearly identifiable by the lotus blossoms he
holds in both hands. The exquisitely cast bronze figure demonstrates
the masculinity of the god through a dynamic pose, the drapery of his
garment, the conical headdress and the delicately stylized jewelry.

Provenance: From an English private collection. By repute acquired at
auction ca. 1960 and thence by descent.
condition: Very good condition with extensive wear, weathering, traces
of use, smaller losses and nicks here and there, but overall fully original
and with a dark-brown, unctuous and naturally grown patina.

Weight: 553.2 g
Dimensions: 17.3 cm
In contrast to the languid forms of the early Chola period, bronzes of the
late Chola, such as the present lot, show a proclivity towards muscular and
exaggerated physiques, as well as great attention to the intricate details
of jewelry, drapery, and bodily features. The long legs are emphasized by
defined shins that have an almost triangular edge. Bronze figures from this
period depicting Surya have fleshy torsos with defined triple lines across the
belly (trivali tarangini, a late-Chola convention), and a muscular chest with
more defined nipples.
Having survived as a primary deity in Hinduism arguably better and longer
than any other of the original Vedic deities apart from Vishnu, the worship
of Surya declined greatly around the 13th century, perhaps as a result of
the Muslim conquest of north India. New Surya temples virtually ceased to
be built, and some were later converted to a different dedication, generally
Shiva. A number of important Surya temples remain, but many are no
longer in worship. For this reason, bronzes depicting Surya are considered
to be extremely rare.
Literature comparison: Compare with another Surya bronze from the 11th-
12th century at the Metropolitan Museum, New york, accession number
2000.284.1.
estimate euR 1.000,-
Starting price EUr 500,-

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