1 / 9

Description

A WOOD RELIEF OF KALI TRAMPLING UPON SHIVA, TAMIL NADU, 18TH CENTURY

A WOOD RELIEF OF KALI TRAMPLING UPON SHIVA, TAMIL NADU, 18TH CENTURY India. Richly carved and reticulated to depict the eight-armed goddess Kali dancing on her lover Shiva’s recumbent body. In her primary hands she holds a trident and kappala, while her secondary hands radiate around her, clasped around her attributes. A devotee with his hands pressed together is carved to the corner. Kali is dressed in a short dhoti and adorned with beaded jewelry. Her fierce face is carved with wide eyes under arched brows and a beguiling smile, revealing fangs to the corners, her hair is tied in an elaborate chignon, all under a kirtimukha to the top and foliate pedestal to the bottom. Provenance: Collection of José Ramón Pons Oliveras, Barcelona, Spain, 1970s. Sotheby’s New York, 19 September 2008, lot 278. Collection of Carlos Cruañas Dalmau, Barcelona, Spain, acquired from the above. A copy of a letter written and signed by José Pons Oliveras, dated 4 November 2008, confirming the provenance and dating above, but identifying the deity as Shiva, accompanies this lot. José Ramón Pons Oliveras (1928-2013) was a traveler, photographer, and cinematographer of nature, and a noted collector of Indian works of art. He travelled extensively to Asia, Oceania, Africa, and South America, filming in many isolated and inaccessible areas of the world. He acquired rare and important works of art during his travels to India in the 1970s, some of which have been sold by Christie’s, including a mottled red sandstone figure of a lion, Mathura, 2nd century, at Christie’s New York, 19 March 2013, lot 259. Condition: Shows wear and natural imperfections. Obvious losses, chips, cracks, nicks, and signs of weathering. One hand with repairs. One arm broken off at the elbow. Sections of the relief are carved separately and attached. Weight: 2,960 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 33.5 cm (excl. stand), 34.5 cm (incl. stand) With an associated metal stand. (2) Once, when the world was threatened by a demon who could not be killed by any male being, human or divine, the gods imbued Parvati (Uma) with their powers. She became Kali, the wrathful, and quickly defeated the demon. But she did not stop there. Instead, she kept on dancing, threatening to destroy all life. Unable to stop her through brute force, her lover Shiva lay down in front of her, allowing her to trample his body, ending her rampage. Many important Hindu shrines in South India own specially constructed wooden carts that are used to carry sacred images of gods in procession on major festival days. The exterior of these elaborate vehicles are carved with wooden relief panels depicting Hindu gods, semidivine beings, mythical animals, loving couples, and saints. They are pulled through the streets by young energetic devotees so that worshipers can catch a glimpse (darshan) of the sacred images that ride inside. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood relief of Shiva and Mohini, Tamil Nadu, 18th century, in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, accession number 93.2. Compare a closely related wood relief of a loving couple with attendant, Tamil Nadu, 18th century, in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, accession number 82.130.

297 
Go to lot
<
>

A WOOD RELIEF OF KALI TRAMPLING UPON SHIVA, TAMIL NADU, 18TH CENTURY

Estimate 1 000 - 2 000 EUR
Starting price 1 000 EUR

* Not including buyer’s premium.
Please read the conditions of sale for more information.

Sale fees: 30 %
Leave bid
Register

For sale on Friday 28 Jun : 11:00 (CEST)
vienna, Austria
Galerie Zacke
+4315320452
Browse the catalogue Sales terms Sale info

Delivery to
Change delivery address
Delivery is not mandatory.
You may use the carrier of your choice.
The indicated price does not include the price of the lot or the auction house's fees.