India, Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh, Circa 12th Century

The stylization of the hair loops, which evolved from earlier prototypes from the region, is beautifully rendered with florets carved in the centers. Compare with an earlier figure of Shiva from the Heeramaneck collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (see A. Heeramaneck, Masterpieces of Indian Sculpture, Los Angeles, 1979, fig.67, pl.IX).