AN IMPORTANT AND PUBLISHED COPPER ALLOY SHRINE OF SHIVA, ORISSA, 11TH CENTURY

Published: Jeff Watt & Walter Arader, Embodying Enlightenment: Buddhist Art of the Himalayas, 2015, p. 7, no. 4.

Exhibited: McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, Embodying Enlightenment: Buddhist Art of the Himalayas, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 11 September 2015 to 3 January 2016.

Northeastern India, 11^th century. Superbly cast, Shiva is seated in lalitasana on an oval lotus base with beaded rims, raised on a stepped waisted base, the pendent foot resting on a small figure of Nandi. The right hand in varada mudra and holding a fruit, the left hand raised in abhaya mudra, the upper hands holding a cup and a lotus, dressed in a short dhoti with finely incised bands, adorned in beaded necklaces and armlets, and with a sash framing his shoulders.

The face with a serene expression, surmounted by a five-pointed crown and tall jatamukuta. The figure backed by a pierced aureole decorated with a central blossom and surmounted by a kirtimukha mask.

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 18 April 1983, lot 73. A private collection in Switzerland, acquired from the above. Christie's New York, 19 March 2014, lot 1083, sold for USD 37,500 or approx. EUR 45,000 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). A private collection in New York, United States, acquired from the above.
Condition: Very good condition with ancient wear, traces of worship, casting irregularities, and minor nicks.

Weight: 1.1 kg
Dimensions: Height 20.4 cm

The present figure can be identified as Shiva due to the presence of Nandi, the bull beneath his right foot. The angular and tiered seat as well as the elaborate throne backing are emblematic of Northeast Indian sculpture during the 11^th century.

The small scale of the present lot highlights the portability of such devotional shrines. Comparable examples include a Green Tara attributed to Kurkihar, sold at Bonhams, Paris, on 11 June 2024, lot 24 (see the auction result comparison below). While sharing regional distinctions, the elongated form and intricate filigree ornamentation of the Orissa example contrast with the fuller proportions and compact build of the Kurkihar Tara. Additionally, the tightly arranged, narrow lotus petals here differ from the broader petals seen in Kurkihar works. Together, these features reflect key aesthetic developments of the period, with this shrine exemplifying the refined bronze artistry unique to Orissa.

Literature comparison:
Compare a figure of Uma Maheshvara, Orissa, 11th-12th century, and a related figure of Vishnu, Sri and Pushti, Orissa, 13^th century, both illustrated by Nihar Ranjan Ray, Karl Khandalavala, and Sadashiv Gorakshka, Eastern Indian Bronzes, 1986, no. 273 and 274a. Both shrines share an intricate prabhavali and remarkable precision in jewelry, crown, and posture, closely related to the present lot. For such a small size, both sculptures show technical refinement and artistic sophistication, hallmarks from the region.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams Paris, 11 June 2024, lot 24
Price: EUR 279,800 or approx. EUR 284,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt copper alloy shrine to green Tara, Northeastern India, Kurhikar, Pala period, 11th century 
Expert remark: Compare the form of the throne and aureole, as well as the portability. Note the size (13 cm) and gilding.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2012, lot 740
Price: USD 33,750 or approx. EUR 41,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silver-inlaid bronze figure of Padmapani, Northeastern India, Pala period, 11th/12th century
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of casting with similar pose, finely detailed aureole, stepped waisted throne, and size (19.7 cm).