A Pala phyllite stone stele of Vishnu. Northeastern India, Bihar. 12th century

A Pala phyllite stone stele of Vishnu. Northeastern India, Bihar. 12th century

Standing on a small double lotus cushion above a base with adorants and a small Garuda at the centre. The main hand missing, in the subsidiary hands gada and chakra. The body is adorned with earrings, necklace, bracelets, a belt and a long garland. To his sides Lakshmi with a flywhisk and Sarasvati with vina, above them on the back-slab lions on tiny elephants and apsara with garlands, the tip broken. Mounted on a contoured wooden stand.
Height 69 cm

Provenance

Private property, North Rhine-Westphalia, acquired before 1971