**First Time At Auction**

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the island of Java, Majapahit Empire, ca. 1293 to 1527 CE. A beautiful, well-preserved example of a limestone carving of a woman, shown standing in an inviting pose. She wears an elaborate skirt with a long belt that hangs down between her legs. She is nude from the waist up, adorned with large armbands and bracelets and a huge necklace/pectoral. Long lotus-shaped earrings hang from her ears. Her hair is well-carved, giving the impression of thick strands combed straight back from the hairline, held in place by a narrow circlet. She stands against a beautiful, cloud-like carving, perhaps meant to represent an architectural feature. One hand rests against the side of this carving, while the other is raised to touch one of her bare breasts. The impression is of wealth and sensuality. Women played an important role in Majapahit society, including in governance; the third monarch of the Empire, for example, was queen regnant Dyah Gitarja who reigned from 1328 to 1350 and oversaw a massive expansion of territory. Size: 3.25" W x 6.35" H (8.3 cm x 16.1 cm)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Dr. Sid Port collection, California, USA, collected in the 1980s

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#137766

Intact, with a few tiny chips and nicks from the surface commensurate with age. Light deposits on surface. Beautiful preservation of details.