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Lot Essay
This finely rendered early Nepalese figure of Lakshmi-Narayana, also known as Vaikuntha-Kamalaja, is the composite image of the god Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi. Examples of this iconographic composite are rare and technically challenging, requiring the artist to capture two deities in one cohesive form. Sophisticated casting, incorporating each deity's unique traits - such as the longer dhoti or the slightly longer hair beneath the crown on Lakshmi’s side, as well as their four held attributes - distinguishes one deity from the other.
The sculpture of the early Malla period, starting from the second half of the twelfth century through the fifteenth century, is characterized by pronounced musculature and elaborate ornamentation. This figure of Lakshmi-Narayana exemplifies the bold yet elegant corporeal sensibility of early Malla sculpture, achieved by a contrast between the powerful frontal stance and the soft rendering of a substantial yet languid physique.
Compare the present lot with a figure Vishnu in the Heeramaneck Collection at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.72.1.8: see P. Pal, The Art of Nepal, California, 1984, p.110, fig.S31), with similar stylistic traits. The proportions of this Vishnu are comparable, with thick, solid hips and thighs topped by a slightly tapered waist beneath broad shoulders. The treatment of the details, such as the simple armlets, earrings and flower pattern on the dhoti found in both figures also points to the early Malla period. Also compare the work to another early Malla period figure of Lakshmi-Narayana, sold at Christie’s New York, 13 September 2016, lot 202, for $30,000. The two figures share similar proportions and gently modeled faces. The elegant rendering of features combined with the masterful illusion of a supple surface in the present example make it a classic example of Newari craftsmanship.
The sculpture of the early Malla period, starting from the second half of the twelfth century through the fifteenth century, is characterized by pronounced musculature and elaborate ornamentation. This figure of Lakshmi-Narayana exemplifies the bold yet elegant corporeal sensibility of early Malla sculpture, achieved by a contrast between the powerful frontal stance and the soft rendering of a substantial yet languid physique.
Compare the present lot with a figure Vishnu in the Heeramaneck Collection at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.72.1.8: see P. Pal, The Art of Nepal, California, 1984, p.110, fig.S31), with similar stylistic traits. The proportions of this Vishnu are comparable, with thick, solid hips and thighs topped by a slightly tapered waist beneath broad shoulders. The treatment of the details, such as the simple armlets, earrings and flower pattern on the dhoti found in both figures also points to the early Malla period. Also compare the work to another early Malla period figure of Lakshmi-Narayana, sold at Christie’s New York, 13 September 2016, lot 202, for $30,000. The two figures share similar proportions and gently modeled faces. The elegant rendering of features combined with the masterful illusion of a supple surface in the present example make it a classic example of Newari craftsmanship.