Indonesia, Java, 14^th century. Finely cast standing barefoot on a circular double-lotus base with beaded rim raised on a square pedestal adorned with foliate decoration mirrored by the ornate jewelry. The lowered right hand with a lotus bud, and the left raised and clasped around the stem of a lotus which blossoms at her shoulder.

Dressed in a long dhoti with neatly rendered pleats, secured by a sash with a floral fastener. Her serene face with neatly incised downcast eyes, gently arched brows, and a beguiling smile, the head crowned by a karanda mukata of piled rings diminishing in size and culminating in a lotus bud, all backed by an oval nimbus.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Marius Van Den Hout, Bali, Indonesia, 1999. Ilunga, Belgium, 2011. Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Sergeant, Ghent, Belgium, acquired from the above and thence by descent. A copy of a certificate of authenticity from Ilunga, written and signed by Luc Cannoot, confirming the provenance and dating above, accompanies this lot. Ilunga was a noted gallery of African and Asian art and antiquities founded in 1980 in Ghent, Belgium, operated by its long-time director Luc Cannoot, who today is active as a contemporary artist, painter, and sculptor. Ilunga is the name that the Luba people give to those they consider to be unifying or bringing people together.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Wear and casting irregularities. Minor dings, little warping, few minuscule losses to the base, remnants of old varnish. The bronze covered with a rich, naturally grown patina with vibrant malachite and cuprite encrustations.

Weight: 1,315.1 g
Dimensions: Height 28.7 cm

During the Majapahit period, a time marked by flourishing trade, cultural syncretism, and artistic innovation, sculptors elevated the visual representation of female deities to align with the grandeur of the royal court. Elaborate headdresses, intricately carved jewelry, and garments with flowing, textured patterns were crafted to emulate the attire of royalty. This artistic approach symbolized the interconnectedness of divine authority and earthly sovereignty, reinforcing the sacred nature of kingship within the Hindu-Buddhist framework of the Majapahit Empire.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related bronze figure of a Rakshasa with similar jewelry, dated 14^th-early 16^th century, 14.6 cm high, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.80.61. Compare a related earlier bronze figure of Bhrikuti, Java, 9^th century, 20.7 cm high, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 54.2969.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 16 December 2003, lot 213
Price: EUR 7,767 or approx. EUR 12,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A central Javanese bronze figure of Shiva, 9^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling with similar pedestal, ornamentation, expression, and size (28.5 cm). Note the earlier dating.