Inde Pāla Black stone

Important fragment of a stele fragment depicting Uma-Maheshvara Northeast India – Pāla Dynasty – 11th-12th century Remarkable fragment of a black stone stele representing Uma-Maheshvara, one of the most intimate and emblematic images of medieval Shaivite iconography from eastern India. The divine couple, Shiva and his wife Uma-Parvati, is depicted in close proximity. Shiva tilts his face toward the goddess and, in a particularly tender gesture, raises his chin to draw her gaze toward his own. This stance, characteristic of Uma-Maheshvara representations, expresses as much the conjugal union of the two deities as the metaphysical unity of masculine and feminine principles. Despite its fragmentary nature, the sculpture retains great visual force. The two faces, the high hairstyles, the jewelry, as well as a substantial portion of the couple’s gestural language remain clearly legible. The whole is framed by a relief-sculpted architectural surround, while the upper part preserves celestial figures arranged on either side of the summital decor. The depth of the relief, the density of the dark stone, and the elaborate treatment of the ornaments align with the North-Eastern Indian sculptural tradition under the Pāla dynasty, in the 11th-12th centuries. The depiction of Uma-Maheshvara celebrates the linganā, the sacred embrace uniting Shiva and Uma. In Pāla-period art, this spiritual union is expressed with remarkable sensuality: the couple’s physical closeness becomes the visible manifestation of a deeper religious reality. Provenance Former collection of Mrs. L., France. Condition Good condition considering the age and archaeological nature of the work. Old fragment with significant losses corresponding to partial conservation of the stele. Wear, surface erosion, concretions, small chips, scratches, and historical accidents visible. The piece is presented on an independent modern base, allowing excellent display of the relief. Dimensions and weight Height of the sculpture: 26.5 cm Dimensions with base: about 36 × 10 × 13 cm Total weight: about 3.8 kg Comparison To be compared notably with stone representations of Uma-Maheshvara produced in eastern India during the Pāla period, including a basalt stele of the XIIth century preserved at the Chittagong University Museum, Bangladesh, inv. CUM 771. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/tepul3q9msxkgi7ntntj5/AFJAV6rJCCKbDKhzp03RS5c?rlkey=p43e9r7wn642wf8v8ytxyk746&dl=0

Estimate:$3,486.08

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