South Asia, India, Chalukya to Vaghela Dynasty, ca. 12th to 13th century CE. A dynamic carved marble statue of an elegant celestial apsara dancer standing upon an integral pedestal, her swaying body in high relief. She is nude from the waist up as is custom, and lavishly bedecked in several beaded strands adorning the neck and torso, armbands, bracelets, earrings, and a bejeweled belt with thigh bands and sheer leg coverings. Her legs are bend and she stands on her toes, caught mid motion- and her anklets undoubtably would tinkle as she moved. Such a lovely and sensual apsara dancer would have been part of the niches around a temple, welcoming the worshippers. Size: 10" L x 5" W x 25" H (25.4 cm x 12.7 cm x 63.5 cm); 26.5" H (67.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Relief sculpture of deities and other beautiful celestial figures and dancers adorned nearly every inch of some temples from this time period, one of which is the famous Dilwara Temple in Mount Abu. For similar images of stylistically similar examples, please see the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine arts online collection, image number: MS.2019.01.3148.

Provenance: private Tucson, Arizona, USA collection, acquired in 2008 from B.C. Galleries, Armadale, Australia

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#173690

Chips and losses to base and high pointed areas. Some softening of details, but clear and sharp. Light mineral and earthen encrustations.