INDIA, RAJASTHAN OR MADHYA PRADESH, 11TH CENTURY

This dynamic frieze depicts a procession of celestial musicians in the midst of a performance. They strike a range of bold, stylized poses and hold a variety of instruments, including horns, drums, and cymbals. The frieze likely formed part of a continuous circular molding beneath a domed ceiling, a space connecting earthly and heavenly realms. The figures resemble mortal musicians of a royal court, though they actually reside in the heavenly court.
The frieze dates to the eleventh century in central India, a period of prolific Hindu temple construction, a time of numerous dynasties vying for political power before the conquest by Muslim Turks and establishment of the Delhi Sultanate. The period produced numerous temples, including the famed temple complex at Khajuraho, world-renowned for its erotically charged and highly detailed figurative decoration. The present lot clearly stems from the same period with the figures’ bold, graphic poses, sumptuous details, and animated movement that conveys the liveliness and excitement of a live musical performance.