A PALE PINK SANDSTONE STELE OF VISHNU VARAHA, THE COSMIC BOAR

Central India, 11^th-12^th century. Finely carved to depict Vishnu as the cosmic boar Varaha standing in samabhanga. The deity holding one of his attributes – the shankha, chakra, gada, and lotus – in each hand. Wearing a tight-fitting pleated dhoti and adorned with beaded necklaces and a vanamala. His head is turned to the side and detailed with curling tusks which balance the weight of the earth. To his feet stand four devotees, two with their hands clasped together in anjali mudra.

Provenance: Collection of José Ramón Pons Oliveras, Barcelona, Spain, acquired before 1990. Jacques Barrère, Paris, France, acquired from the above.

- José Ramón Pons Oliveras (1928-2013) was a traveler, photographer, and cinematographer of nature, and a noted collector of Indian works of art. He travelled extensively to Asia, Oceania, Africa, and South America, filming in many isolated and inaccessible areas of the world. He acquired rare and important works of art during his travels to India in the 1970s, some of which have been sold by Christie’s, including a mottled red sandstone figure of a lion, Mathura, 2nd century, at Christie’s New York, 19 March 2013, lot 259.

- The Jacques Barrère Gallery is located in the heart of Paris, in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. Since 1969, it has held exhibitions to promote and preserve Far-Eastern art. The gallery specializes in Chinese sculpture, archaeology, ceramics and decorative arts, as well as Japanese works of art and porcelain. Statuary art from Gandhara, India or South-East Asia is also regularly displayed. Objects once owned by Barrère are now in major museums around the world, including the Guimet, the Cernuschi, and the Shanghai Museum. The Barrère gallery is a regular exhibitor at TEFAF in Maastricht.

Condition: Good condition with ancient wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, obvious losses, chips, tiny nicks, scratches, and structural fissures.
French Export License: Certificat d’exportation pour un bien culturel, nr. 057175, dated 4 December 2003, has been granted. A copy accompanies this lot. Note that in this document the present lot has erroneously been dated to 16^th/17^th century.

Weight: 67.4 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 70.3 cm (excl. stand), 71.5 cm (incl. stand)

With an associated metal stand. (2)

Varaha is the third incarnation of Vishnu in the Dashavatara. The transformation of Vishnu into a boar became necessary when the demon, Hiranayaksha, once dragged the earth under the sea. The earth-goddess's cries for help reached Vishnu who took the form of a boar, plunged into the depths of the ocean, gored the demon to death and surfaced with the earth intact.

The Ellora Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for their impressive rock-cut architecture. Dating from the 6^th to 10^th centuries, they feature 34 caves representing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions, illustrating the religious harmony of the period. Although the caves served as temples and a rest stop for pilgrims, the site's location on an ancient South Asian trade route also made it an important commercial center in the Deccan region. For an earlier figure of Varaha, 6th century, see the rock carvings at Cave 27, Ellora, Maharashtra, India.

Ravana Phadi is an ancient rock-cut cave temple located in Aihole, Karnataka, dating back to the 6^th century AD. An important example of early Chalukyan rock architecture, this early Hindu temple is dedicated to Shiva and is renowned for its intricate carvings and architectural style. The cave features a sanctum, a central hall with impressive pillars, and walls adorned with elaborate sculptures depicting various deities and mythological scenes. For a related earlier sandstone figure of Varaha, early Chalukya period, 6th-7th century, see the rock carvings at Ravana Phadi, Karnataka, India.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 September 2000, lot 26
Price: USD 14,100 or approx. EUR 23,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A sandstone stele of Vishnu Varaha, Central India, 10^th/11^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related subject, modeling, and manner of carving. Note the size (99 cm).