Very finely carved with the boar-faced avatar striding over the naga king, wearing a dhoti incised with flowerheads, several necklaces and a garland of fresh flowers, the face finely modelled with a foliate crown, carrying achakra, lotus, conch and staff in his four hands, the Earth Goddess seated on his upper left arm with hands folded, backed by a flaming aureole incised with bird and flowers, the bottom and sides carved with ocean waves
13½ (34.3 cm.) high
Details
- Title : A stone relief of Varaha
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Stone
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Period : 17th century
- Collection : Christies
- LOT : 424
- Pre-Lot Text : Property from a Private New Jersey Collection
- Lot Essay : After waging war on Heaven, Hiranyaksha the demon challenged Vishnu to a duel by abducting his consort Prithvi, the Earth Goddess, and hiding her at the bottom of the ocean. Vishnu, in his third incarnate as Varaha the Boar, immediately shot out of Brahma's nose and dove into the ovean to rescue her. He lifted her up by his tusks and ascended to the surface. Once safely above water, Varaha used his chakra to disarm and destroy the demon. This relief depicts Brahma Varaha emerging triumphantly from the ocean with Prithvi perched on his left elbow, her hands folded in thanks.
- Price realised : USD 27,500
- Estimate : USD 8,000 - USD 12,000
- Provenance : Private collection, New Jersey, acquired and imported before 1968 *By descent to present owner by 1980