10th Apr, 2025 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
29
† A RARE STONE STELE OF VISHNU FLANKED BY LAKSHMI AND GARUDA, THAKURI DYNASTY
€7,500
€15,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, 11th century. Deeply and finely carved with the central four-armed Vishnu standing on a rectangular plinth adorned with stylized tendrils, holding in his four hands objects symbolizing his role as the god of sound, mind, strength, and liberation. Flanking him are his consort Parvati and his loyal vahana Garuda, the triad encircled by radiant aureoles of pearls and flames, emphasizing Vishnu's divine presence.
Provenance: Spink & Son, London, 1987 (invoice lost). Raymond Handley, Los Altos Hills, California, acquired from the above, and thence by descent to his wife Marsha Vargas Handley. Raymond G. Handley (1923-2009) partnered with Ray Renault in the 1950s to co-found one of California’s oldest and most successful real estate development firms. They were pioneers in shaping the early landscape of Silicon Valley, developing buildings for major tech innovators such as Intel and Raytheon, laying the groundwork for the region’s transformation into a global technology hub. Raymond Handley was a keen collector of art who traveled extensively, including the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea and Africa. In Mali, where his brother served as the Ambassador of the United States, he drilled more than fifty water wells for Dogon villages. His passion led him to establish Folk Art International/Xanadu Tribal Arts, an ethnographic art business which developed into the Xanadu Gallery in the late 1990s, located in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright building off Union Square, and continued by his widow Marsha Vargas Handley until her retirement in 2015. Having opened her first gallery in the Bay Area in 1973, she is an important figure in the Asian art world in her own right, serving as the president of the International Netsuke Society for over 16 years. Raymond Handley’s first visit to Spink & Son took place in the early 1980s, between Christmas and New Year’s, when much of the staff was away on vacation. During this visit, Raymond was captivated by the gallery's impressive selection of fine works and quickly amassed a collection of over 100 items he intended to purchase. This large number caused some concern for Anthony Gardner, head of Spink’s Southeast Asian Department, who had never dealt with such a sizable transaction. As the total approached 108 items, Anthony suggested Raymond stop there, citing it as an auspicious number. To this day, 108 remains the record for the most works sold in a single day, and it became customary thereafter for the staff to remain at work during the holiday period.
Condition: Very good condition, especially considering the age of this stele. Expected wear, chips and minor losses, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, structural fissures, light scratches, small nicks, remnants of pigment.
Weight: 30.8 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 51.5 cm (excl. stand), 55 cm (incl. stand)
With an associated metal stand. (2)
In early Nepalese art, triads were favored in both Hindu and Buddhist imagery. This stele depicts Vishnu in his four-armed form, displaying, in raised hands, his principal weapons—a discus and a club. Attending him are his consort, the goddess Lakshmi, and the eagle Garuda, his celestial vehicle, represented in anthropomorphic form. Vishnu stands on a raised platform decorated with a stylized lotus plant and a flower cartouche, while Lakshmi is on a lotus pedestal and Garuda is on tiered rocks, representing his mountain abode. Each deity is surrounded by a pearl-and-flame aureole, as is the entire ensemble.
Literature comparison:
Compare a near identical stone stele, 48.9 cm high, also dated to the 11th century, formerly in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1995.570.9, and returned to the Government of Nepal in November 2022. Compare a closely related schist stele depicting the same subject, 75.8 cm high, also dated to the 11th century, formerly in the collection of Marilynn B. Alsdorf and now in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number 2014.1026.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s, Paris, 26 November 2002, lot 304
Price: EUR 24,675 or approx. EUR 36,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A stone stele of Vishnu, Nepal, 9th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and subject as well as the related modeling and manner of carving. Note the earlier date and closely related size (53 cm).
Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, 11th century. Deeply and finely carved with the central four-armed Vishnu standing on a rectangular plinth adorned with stylized tendrils, holding in his four hands objects symbolizing his role as the god of sound, mind, strength, and liberation. Flanking him are his consort Parvati and his loyal vahana Garuda, the triad encircled by radiant aureoles of pearls and flames, emphasizing Vishnu's divine presence.
Provenance: Spink & Son, London, 1987 (invoice lost). Raymond Handley, Los Altos Hills, California, acquired from the above, and thence by descent to his wife Marsha Vargas Handley. Raymond G. Handley (1923-2009) partnered with Ray Renault in the 1950s to co-found one of California’s oldest and most successful real estate development firms. They were pioneers in shaping the early landscape of Silicon Valley, developing buildings for major tech innovators such as Intel and Raytheon, laying the groundwork for the region’s transformation into a global technology hub. Raymond Handley was a keen collector of art who traveled extensively, including the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea and Africa. In Mali, where his brother served as the Ambassador of the United States, he drilled more than fifty water wells for Dogon villages. His passion led him to establish Folk Art International/Xanadu Tribal Arts, an ethnographic art business which developed into the Xanadu Gallery in the late 1990s, located in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright building off Union Square, and continued by his widow Marsha Vargas Handley until her retirement in 2015. Having opened her first gallery in the Bay Area in 1973, she is an important figure in the Asian art world in her own right, serving as the president of the International Netsuke Society for over 16 years. Raymond Handley’s first visit to Spink & Son took place in the early 1980s, between Christmas and New Year’s, when much of the staff was away on vacation. During this visit, Raymond was captivated by the gallery's impressive selection of fine works and quickly amassed a collection of over 100 items he intended to purchase. This large number caused some concern for Anthony Gardner, head of Spink’s Southeast Asian Department, who had never dealt with such a sizable transaction. As the total approached 108 items, Anthony suggested Raymond stop there, citing it as an auspicious number. To this day, 108 remains the record for the most works sold in a single day, and it became customary thereafter for the staff to remain at work during the holiday period.
Condition: Very good condition, especially considering the age of this stele. Expected wear, chips and minor losses, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, structural fissures, light scratches, small nicks, remnants of pigment.
Weight: 30.8 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 51.5 cm (excl. stand), 55 cm (incl. stand)
With an associated metal stand. (2)
In early Nepalese art, triads were favored in both Hindu and Buddhist imagery. This stele depicts Vishnu in his four-armed form, displaying, in raised hands, his principal weapons—a discus and a club. Attending him are his consort, the goddess Lakshmi, and the eagle Garuda, his celestial vehicle, represented in anthropomorphic form. Vishnu stands on a raised platform decorated with a stylized lotus plant and a flower cartouche, while Lakshmi is on a lotus pedestal and Garuda is on tiered rocks, representing his mountain abode. Each deity is surrounded by a pearl-and-flame aureole, as is the entire ensemble.
Literature comparison:
Compare a near identical stone stele, 48.9 cm high, also dated to the 11th century, formerly in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1995.570.9, and returned to the Government of Nepal in November 2022. Compare a closely related schist stele depicting the same subject, 75.8 cm high, also dated to the 11th century, formerly in the collection of Marilynn B. Alsdorf and now in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number 2014.1026.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s, Paris, 26 November 2002, lot 304
Price: EUR 24,675 or approx. EUR 36,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A stone stele of Vishnu, Nepal, 9th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and subject as well as the related modeling and manner of carving. Note the earlier date and closely related size (53 cm).
Natural Light Images for Logged-in Users Only
You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save.
If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
Zacke Live Online Bidding
Our online bidding platform makes it easier than ever to bid in our auctions! When you bid through our website, you can take advantage of our premium buyer's terms without incurring any additional online bidding surcharges.
To bid live online, you'll need to create an online account. Once your account is created and your identity is verified, you can register to bid in an auction up to 12 hours before the auction begins.
Intended Spend and Bid Limits
When you register to bid in an online auction, you will need to share your intended maximum spending budget for the auction. We will then review your intended spend and set a bid limit for you. Once you have pre-registered for a live online auction, you can see your intended spend and bid limit by going to 'Account Settings' and clicking on 'Live Bidding Registrations'.
Your bid limit will be the maximum amount you can bid during the auction. Your bid limit is for the hammer price and is not affected by the buyer’s premium and VAT. For example, if you have a bid limit of €1,000 and place two winning bids for €300 and €200, then you will only be able to bid €500 for the rest of the auction. If you try to place a bid that is higher than €500, you will not be able to do so.
Online Absentee and Telephone Bids
You can now leave absentee and telephone bids on our website!
Absentee Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave your absentee bid directly on the lot page. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Telephone Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave telephone bids online. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Classic Absentee and Telephone Bidding Form
You can still submit absentee and telephone bids by email or fax if you prefer. Simply fill out the Absentee Bidding/Telephone bidding form and return it to us by email at office@zacke.at or by fax at +43 (1) 532 04 52 20. You can download the PDF from our Upcoming Auctions page.
How-To Guides
How to Create Your Personal Zacke Account
How to Register to Bid on Zacke Live
How to Leave Absentee Bids Online
How to Leave Telephone Bids Online
中文版本的操作指南
创建新账号
注册Zacke Live在线直播竞拍（免平台费）
缺席投标和电话投标
Third-Party Bidding
We partner with best-in-class third-party partners to make it easy for you to bid online in the channel of your choice. Please note that if you bid with one of our third-party online partners, then there will be a live bidding surcharge on top of your final purchase price. You can find all of our fees here. Here's a full list of our third-party partners:
- 51 Bid Live
- EpaiLive
- ArtFoxLive
- Invaluable
- LiveAuctioneers
- the-saleroom
- lot-tissimo
- Drouot
Please note that we place different auctions on different platforms. For example, in general, we only place Chinese art auctions on 51 Bid Live.
Bidding in Person
You must register to bid in person and will be assigned a paddle at the auction. Please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52 for the latest local health and safety guidelines.
Auction: TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism, 10th Apr, 2025
Galerie Zacke is privileged to present a remarkable two-day live auction event, featuring 684 works of art from China, Southeast Asia, India, and beyond.
The highlight is our flagship live auction on Day 1, showcasing lots 1-269, Among the many standout pieces are a ge-type octagonal bowl from the Southern Song dynasty, part of the Jules Speelman collection (lot 137), a rare 1st-2nd century gold figure of a mother goddess from the Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum collection (lot 176), as well as a group of four parcel-gilt bronze Bodhisattvas from the Bao-Xiang Lo Palace and Temple, with Qianlong marks and of the period (lot 52).
Day 2 continues with our general auction (lots 270-684), offering seasoned collectors and new bidders alike an opportunity to enhance their collections. Learn more.
Classic Bidding Form Telephone Bidding Form
Viewing
31 March - 9 April 2025
Monday - Friday, 10 am - 6 pm
as well as by appointment
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
