South Asia, India, ca. 19th century CE. A marvelous alabaster sculpture of Vaikuntha Chaturmurti exhibiting 3 heads - an anthropomorphic visage at the center flanked by a boar and a lion - and 6 arms holding various weapons and implements, such as a conch shell, a disc, a club, and a lotus. Wearing a kilt and layered collar necklaces, the bare-chested deity represents Vishnu as the supreme being, featuring the placid face of Vasudeva in the middle of lion-headed Narasimha on the left and the boar-faced Varaha on the right. The figure stands in sandals with arms-outspread, surmounted by 3 tapering headdresses. Depictions of Vaikunth Chaturmurti like this one usually also have a fourth, fierce face of a rakshasa or demon at the back, though it is absent here as it was likely a bas relief. A Sanskrit inscription in Odia script below the figure may identify the deity as Lord of the 3 Eyes or 3 Faces. Size: 5.5" L x 11.5" W x 22.5" H (14 cm x 29.2 cm x 57.2 cm)

From the 8th through the 10th century, this four-faced Vishnu was the paramount cult icon in the kingdom of Kashmir.

Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection

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#182006

Missing 2 proper left arms and implement on left side, as well as part of implement in right hand. Chipping and minor losses to left periphery and heads animals at feet. Expected nicks and abrasions as shown. Liberal remaining pigments and detail.