Lot 31A
India, Post Indus Valley Period, ca. 16th century CE. A fine Trimurti sculpture, hand carved from a single piece of grey-black stone, the sacred trinity representing the supreme deity of Hinduism - in which Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer/transformer are personified as a holy triad. In this piece all three deities of the Trimurti manifest as a single avatar that is known as Dattatreya - Datta meaning "given" and Atreya in reference to the sage Atri, his physical father. Ten of the twelve hands grasp tresses of another trimurti image suspended in the left-most hand. The central figure represents the deity Shiva, his most visible attribute being the third eye on his forehead. Given this, those 'tresses' may actually represent the snake Vasuki, another of Shiva's attributes. Shiva is complex deity possessing many forms, including Pasupati Lord of All Creatures, Nataraja God of Wisdom and Performing Arts, Vinadhara Lord of Music and Chandrashekhara Lord of medicinal plants. Here we see Shiva as the erotic ascetic, engaged in lascivious behavior with a voluptuous partner. We are simultaneously witnessing his fierce aspect as he steps upon demons with both feet - all atop a lotus base with a rounded and inscribed plinth. In many respects, Shiva is the most human of Hindu deities. As Pal notes, "He is at once gracious and destructive, erotic and ascetic, sedentary and nomadic, auspicious and ominous. He has a wife and family but is a restless wanderer, a haunter of the cremation ground. (Pal, 1997, pg. 6) The strong and sharp casting of this image, in excellent condition, exemplifies the mastery of the South Indian bronze casters in the lost wax (cire pirdue) process. What's more this imagery reflects the impressive artistic canons of India, particularly visual imagery depicted in sacred temples, as starting in the 8th century CE, Hindus dedicated temples to the Trimurti - the most famous including the Baroli Trimurti Temple, the Elephanta Caves, the Mithrananthapuram Trimurti Temple, the Prambanan Trimurti Temple, Savadi Trimurti Temple, and Thripaya Trimurti Temple. A powerful example, replete with expert technique and artistry as well as layers of iconographical meaning. Size: 10.25" W x 13.25" H (26 cm x 33.7 cm)
Provenance: Ex-Peter Arnovick collection, San Francisco, CA
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#117422
- Condition: Small repair to upper left hand, roughness along base, else excellent.
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