Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 18

Indian Carved Sandstone Frieze of Lakshmi, Central India, 10th-11th Century

$37,500
£28,454.14
€32,534.76
CA$52,377.33
A$58,236.47
CHF 30,407.87
MX$708,879.60
NOK 387,991.17
SEK 363,529.19
DKK 242,812.91
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

A large and impressive Indian carved sandstone architectural frieze featuring a central image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi flanked by two attendants, Central India, 10th-11th century. Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of love, wealth and prosperity, is portrayed seated between two columns upon a raised pedestal in lalitasana, the royal ease pose, with one leg crossed in front of her, the other hanging pendant. Depicted in her four armed form, Lakshmi holds stylized lotus blossoms in each of her upraised hands. In her lower hand, she holds a treasure vase, said to contain unlimited wealth. Her other hand, now missing, would have been performing varada mudra, the gesture of bestowing favors and fulfilling wishes. Lakshmi's benevolent face is set with large almond shaped eyes that gaze kindly outwards. A gentle smile plays across her mouth, the corners of her lips upturned in a coy manner. Large earrings frame her face, her hair in a high, tiered chignon adorned with ribbons. Her voluptuous body is adorned with jewels. Her bare torso, with idealized, oversized breasts, is festooned with garlands and necklaces. Flanking Lakshmi are two female attendants and another pair of columns. The attendants are posed in tribhanga, the thrice bent position. Each holds a lotus blossom aloft, one of Lakshmi's attributes. Carved in extremely high relief from a single block of pink/buff sandstone, this frieze would originally have been part of an Indian Hindu temple wall, and bears some similarities to sculpture from the Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Madhya Pradesh. Interestingly, when viewing the sculpture from a distance, the stone appears pink. When closeup, the stone appears buff with pink veins running through it. The back of hewn sandstone, unfinished. Mounted on a custom metal stand. Provenance: Ring Collection, Austin TX Xanadu Gallery, San Francisco, 1999 Dimensions of frieze only: W 28.5", D 8", H 15.75".
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18.75 in (47.63 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 9 in (22.86 cm)
  • Style:
    Medieval (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    10th-11th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. An architectural fragment in very good condition for age. With old, scattered losses, most notably to Lakshmi's pendant leg and associated arm/hand. Also with some loss to the headdress and the corners of the sculpture.
  • Seller Location:
    Austin, TX
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU894717784222

More From This Seller

View All
Carved Sandstone Jain Family Group, 6th-7th Century, Uttar Pradesh, India
Located in Austin, TX
A fine and rare Indian carved sandstone stele of a Jain family group, Sarnath style, early Indian Medieval period, 6th-7th century, Uttar Pradesh, India. Carved from a single block of buff sandstone, the stele features a Jain family group comprised of a father, mother, and two children. The family group is portrayed upon a lotus pedestal under a tall palm tree. The mother and father both seated in a relaxed pose known as lalitasana, or royal ease pose, a jovial expression on their faces. The mother holds the daughter in her lap. The younger son scampers mischievously up the trunk of the palm tree, his head turned to look back at his parents. Above the family, nestled in a niche amongst the palm fronds, an image of a Jain Tirthankara...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Medieval Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Sandstone

12th Century Indian Carved White Marble Figure of a Jain Tirthankara or Jina
Located in Austin, TX
A well carved Indian white marble Jain temple relief fragment featuring an image of a Jina, circa 12th century, Rajasthan or Gujarat, India. The Tirthan...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Antiquities

Materials

Marble

Khmer Sandstone Figure of a Female Deity
Located in Austin, TX
A wonderfully sensual Khmer statue of a female divinity delicately carved from gray sandstone. Her face radiates a cool serenity. Almond shaped eyes ga...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Cambodian Sculptures

Materials

Sandstone, Metal

Khmer Carved Sandstone Male Deity, Style of the Baphoun, 11th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A delightful carved sandstone sculpture of an unidentified male deity, Khmer, Angkor Period, style of the Baphuon, 11th century. The smil...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Cambodian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Sandstone

Gandharan Terracotta Figure of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, 4th-6th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A very rare and decidedly charming half-scale terracotta sculpture of the bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, ancient region of Gandha...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Pakistani Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Terracotta

Gandharan Standing Bodhisattva Maitreya, Carved Black Schist, 2nd-4th Century
Located in Austin, TX
An impressive and well carved Gandharan figure of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, carved black schist, ancient Kingdom of Gand...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Pakistani Antiquities

Materials

Schist

You May Also Like

10th Century Temple Bracket Buff Sandstone Central India
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a stunning piece of Indian antiquity from the 10th century, namely, a temple bracket buff sandstone central India carving. From Central In...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Archaistic Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Sandstone

Ancient Indian Red Sandstone Carving Of An Apsaras
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A likely 12-14th Century Northern Indian temple fragment of a female figure or consort known as an Apsaras. Carved in Red Sandstone, the female figure is appropriately attired in bel...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Agra Antiquities

Materials

Sandstone

11C Ambika Buff Sandstone Western India
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a stunning piece of Indian antiquity from the 11th century, namely, a 11C Ambika Buff Sandstone Western India carving. From Western India. ...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Archaistic Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Sandstone

19th century sandstone statue of Saraswati with Ganesha and Kartikeya from India
Located in DEVENTER, NL
This sandstone statue of Saraswati, accompanied by Ganesha and Kartikeya, is a remarkable piece of Indian religious art. Crafted from sandstone, it st...
Category

Antique 19th Century Indian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Sandstone

17th Century Asian Hand-Carved Stone Temple Sculpture of a Female Divinity
Located in Yonkers, NY
A 17th century Asia hand-carved stone temple sculpture possibly from India, depicting a divinity. Featuring a strong patina revealing its age, this high-relief hand-carved stone scul...
Category

Antique 17th Century Asian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stone

10th Century Varaha Red Sandstone Central, India
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a stunning piece of Indian antiquity from the 10th century, namely, a Varaha red sandstone central India carving. From Central India. This piece has impeccable Provenance! It was purchased by a Private Dallas collector at Sotheby’s New York Auction on 24th September 2004. Sale Number 8008, Lot No. 28. Sotheby’s operate a twice yearly auction of Southeast Asian Art & Antiquities in New York in the months of March and September. The sculpture was described as: "Carved in relief with Vishnu in his boar incarnation stepping forward from the ocean, his left foot placed upon a lotus, two nagas beneath with their hands clasped in devotion. Vishnu’s primary right hand rests on his thigh in katihasta mudra while his remaining hands carry his attributes of mace, conch and discus. A diminutive figure of the earth Goddess, Bhudevi, whom Vishnu has rescued from the primeval waters, is balanced on his left elbow. The figure is bejeweled, wearing a broad, beaded waistband and necklaces and is placed within a niche between two pillars. Measure: Height 27 in. (68.6 cm.), circa 10th century. Provenance: Sotheby’s New York, March 21 & 22, 1990, Lot 253 Catalogue Note: This zoomorphic representation of Vishnu gained popular currency during the medieval period and was widely depicted in Central Indian Temple sculpture...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Archaistic Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Sandstone