End of Sale: Lot 37 (detail) Inside Back Cover: Lot

Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is worshipped in India as the god of abundance and because of his skill of removing all obstacles.

In this high relief, the elephant-headed god wears jewels on his neck, head, arms and belly. He is represented with six arms (two are missing) in a very elegant dancing pose. While standing in his right leg, he is harmonious, sensuous, perfectly balanced despite the volume of his belly. His trunk tastes delicious sweets from the bowl he holds in his left hand.

On the upper high sides, two apsaras drop flower garlands in order to venerate the god.

The relief is an angular one, with a large stone wall at its right side.

Despite the loss of his two right arms, this figure of Ganesh gives the impression to be quite intact because of its considerable power and grace.

Expert: Renzo Freschi

Renzo Freschi is an expert in Oriental Art and has extensively travelled within Asia since 1971. He has curated over forty monographic exhibitions on different aspects and periods of Asian art and has published several catalogues on the subject. In 2013 he curated the public exhibition The magic of India, from the Temple to the Court, masterpieces of Indian Art, showcasing more than 200 works of Indian art from the most important Italian collections.

Artiana would like to thank Renzo Freschi for his expertise and assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.

LOT 1 CLASSICAL INDIAN SCULPTURE

Dancing Ganesh sandstone height - 26.5 in. (67 cm.) width - 17 in. (43 cm.) depth - 6.75 in. (17cm.) 10th/11th century India, Rajasthan US$ 20,000 - 30,000

PROVENANCE Private collection New York, since 1947.

Durga is the great goddess, the companion (shakti) of Shiva, the incarnation of the feminine principle. She absorbed the old pre-Vedic figure of the Mother Goddess and was the first female goddess to be worshipped in a Hindu's proper cult.

Durga has different forms and representations. Here she is depicted with four arms bearing: the trident, the snake, the amrita bowl (with sacred water) while her fourth arm is in dhyanamudra (meditation gesture). She sits in sukhasana (posture) between two columns that create a sort of sacred space enhancing her figure.

Beside the goddess, two female figures in tribhanga posture (the typical triple bend) hold a flywhisk as a sign of devotion and respect. They are probably the river goddesses Ganga and Jamuna, who also appear in the Shiva iconography.

This relief is so deeply carved that the figures seem to be sculpted quite entirely.

Conservation is good, only the head of the left devotee is missing.

LOT 2 CLASSICAL INDIAN SCULPTURE

Durga sandstone height - 15 in. (38 cm.) width - 23.25 in. (59 cm.) depth - 5.5 in. (14 cm.) 11th/12th century India, Rajasthan US$ 7,000 - 10,000

PROVENANCE Private collection New York, since 1947.

This stele depicts the god Vishnu with goddess Lakshmi to the right and goddess Parvati to the left.

Over them, two apsaras drop flower garlands to honour the god. Below them, two kneeling devotees keep joined hands as a sign of devotion and prayer.

Vishnu is portrayed in the classical form: with his four arms holding the mace, the lotus, the wheel and the conch, his attributes.

Details are sculpted with great care and refinement. Figures seem to move away from the background.

The piece is an excellent example of Pala Dynasty art, which showed in the stone steles chiefly than in sculpture the iconic power of its figures. Pala steles are a characteristic of major Pala Art.

The stele is in a very good state; the top only suffered little damage.

LOT 3 CLASSICAL INDIAN SCULPTURE

Vishnu with Lakshmi and Saraswati black stone height - 23.5 in. (60 cm.) width - 10.25 in. (26 cm.) depth - 4.25 in. (11 cm.) 12th century, Pala Period Bangladesh US$ 12,000 - 18,000

PROVENANCE Private collection, Italy.