24 - Crouching guardian figure in the namaste pose

Crouching guardian figure in the namaste pose Wood with a crusty patina of white clay and ritual splatters, cracks, an aged patina, and signs of wear and the passage of time. Northwestern Nepal. H. 43 cm. Provenance: former Stéphane Mangin collection Publication: Himalayas - Éric Chazot, Liliane and Michel Durand-Dessert - Éditions LMDD, 2011 - Volume 2, no. 99. Exhibition: - Espace Durand-Dessert, September 4, 2010, to July 31, 2011. This figure, crouching in the namaste pose, exudes a powerful presence, conveyed by the simplicity of her gesture. Placed in a ritual or domestic setting, she received offerings and splashes of white clay—symbols of both devotion and hope. Straddling the human and divine realms, she becomes a figure of intercession, entrusted with receiving offerings and granting human wishes.