Finely carved from dark grey schist with the three-headed Brahma seated atop a column, the front face with a long beard and elaborate chignon, a makara beside him above a vyala, the lower end of the pillar with a worshipper kneeling on a lotus base.

Provenance: French trade. Acquired from an old private collection.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, obvious losses, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, chips, nicks, scratches. The wood base with minor wear and light scratches.

Weight: 5 kg (incl. base)
Dimensions: Height 37 cm (excl. base), 37.5 cm (incl. base)

Mounted to a modern wood base. (2)

Literature comparison:
Compare a related larger sandstone architectural fragment depicting five of the ten incarnations of Vishnu, as well as a vyala similar to the one found on the present lot, Deccan, dated 900-1190, formerly in the National Museum of India and now in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, inventory number 1971.Eb.3. Compare also a gray schist fragment depicting Vaishnavi with a guardian lion, dated 10th century, 74.9 cm high, in the Dayton Art Institute, object number 1973.1.