A buff sandstone stele of Ganesha

INDIA, UTTAR PRADESH, CIRCA 10TH CENTURY

Details

A buff sandstone stele of Ganesha
India, Uttar Pradesh, circa 10th century
Dancing over a lotus blossom holding various implements in his outstretched hands, adorned with various jewelry and with snakes wrapped across his torso, the face with curled trunk and finely arched brows surmounted by a jeweled headdress, flanked by animals and attendant figures with flying garland-bearers above
29¼ in. (74.3 cm.) high

Provenance

The Collection of Alice N. Heeramaneck
Private collection, Dubai, acquired from Sotheby's New York, 4 June 1994, lot 81

Literature

A. Heeramaneck, Masterpieces of Indian Sculpture, 1979, cat. no. 79

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Lot Essay

Known as the Remover of Obstacles and worshipped for auspicious beginnings, Ganesha is a beloved Hindu deity. Regardless of his elephant head, multiple arms, jewelry, and plump figure, his character is clever and his body remarkably agile, as demonstrated by his dancing steps in the present example. Like the other Hindu gods, Ganesha manifests a variety of appearances, always recognizable by his elephant head.

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