Buff sandstone
Central/North India, 7th/8th Century
Stone sculpture of dancing Ganesha, the god of good luck and wisdom
A clearly elaborated third eye on the forehead
Appeasing face expression and elegantly curved trunk
Large ears are decorated with tassels
A long drooping of the multi-row pearl upavita on his left shoulder
Beautifully adorned with beaded headband, layers of drooping chains of jewels, bangles, armlets and anklets
Wearing a fitted dhoti with jeweled belt
Three of the original four arms remain intact
Each arm holds his characteristic attributes
Front of the rectangular plinth is decorated with shallow relief of the long-tailed rat vahana
Height: 20 in. (51 cm)
In overall good condition with a great trace of age and wear
Provenance: From a private American collection. Acquired in 1986 from the Kapoor Galleries, New York

The elephant-headed, four-armed god Ganesha is shown in dancing position with deeply bent left leg and angled right leg. His rear right hand holds the characteristic attribute: the ax. The other attributes in his front right and rear left hand are lost. The missing front left hand held a bowl of Laddu, which can be told from the left leg. His beautiful face is highlighted by the drooping ears, elegantly curved trunk and third eye on the forehead, as the son of Shiva and Parvati. On top of his head is a headband, embracing the two humps of the head, and a small carved lotus shaped Nimbus behind.

His whole body is adorned with a necklace and a belt with arcuate drooping chains of diamond-shaped jewels, a long draping of the left shoulder with multi layered pearl upavita, armlets, and anklets.

The overall composition is architecturally solid with the accompanying figures on the frame. There are two seated figures on the base level and two flying figures with maladharas in the upper corners. A shallow relief of long-tailed rat vahana is found on the front of the rectangular plinth.

The bare, undecorated surface on the back panel originated in the northern Indo-Gangetic Plain, northern Madhya Pradesh. The openwork back panel, through which the finely carved body of Ganesha is largely exposed, is also a regional characteristic. This piece was assumingly part of the outer wall of a temple and was placed in one of the central wall niches on the porch.

Ganesha

Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is worshiped as one of the Hindu deities. He is usually depicted as a small man with an elephant’s head and four arms, seated on a lotus flower. Ganesha is the gods’ messenger and ‘master of obstacles.’ He helps others to overcome obstacles, but can also create them as punishment. He is seen as a benevolent, well-humored, but sometimes mischievous god.

Provenance

From a private American collection. Acquired in 1986 from the Kapoor Galleries, New York

Condition

In overall good condition with a great trace of age and wear.

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