An Indian carved sandstone figure of a celestial maiden, Madhya Pradesh, 11th-12th century 印度砂岩神像 十一或十二世紀

The curvaceous maiden with arched eyebrows and full breasts, standing in tribhanga pose, both ears adorned with large earrings, elaborate jewelry to her neck and waist, a fly whisk on her right shoulder, scarves twining around her arm and lower limbs, of a buff sandstone

H: 13 ½ in. (not including stand)

Provenance

Formerly in the collection of Franklin Lee Hand (1927-2019), San Francisco, noted antiques dealer and patron of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco Thence by descent.

Frank Hand arrived in San Francisco after serving in the United States military, eventually becoming an executive at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife). He retired in the 1970s and became an antiques dealer specializing in Asian arts. Mr. Hand acquired many works from his friend, the noted dealer and San Francisco cultural leader Chingwah Lee (1901-1980), local auction houses such as Butterfields, and directly from San Francisco and East Bay estates being dispersed in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a major benefactor to the San Francisco Asian arts museum, with several donated works including a rare pair of carved Indian armchairs designed by Lockwood de Forrest (accession #2011.58.1-.2).

Literature

The sinuous verticality and exuberant sensuality of the present sculpture, of a pale sandstone, relates it with other works identified as having come from the Madhya Pradesh region in India, possibly the famous complex of temples at Khajuraho. For other examples, see Pratapaditya Pal, "Indian Sculpture", Vol. 2, Los Angeles, 1988, p. 113, no. 43; and Pal, "The Sensuous Immortals", Los Angeles, 1977, pp. 80-81, nos. 45, 46.