Lot 65
 
Quick Zoom

TAMIL NADU, CIRCA 12TH CENTURY
Bronze
19.25 in (49 cm) high

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY

PROVENANCE
Property from a Royal Collection


This gracefully modelled sculpture from the Chola dynasty shows Saint Manikkavachakar, the famed 9th century Shaivite Tamil poet, with his right hand held up in a gesture of teaching. In his left hand, he holds a palm-leaf manuscript symbolic of his devotion to Lord Shiva. He has matted hair and is modestly dressed, with a sacred thread around his torso, a necklace, an arm ornament and a bangle. A short cloth is wrapped around his waist. "Manikkavachakar wrote a large and varied body of poems, which constitute the Tiruvachakam, the eighth book of the the Tiruvachakam, the eighth book of the the Tiruvachakam, the eighth book of the title, 'He whose words are rubies'. Shiva temples generally possess two images of Manikkavachakar, one being placed before the temple’s image of Shiva as Nataraja (Lord of Dance). The second stands as part of the nalvar or 'Revered Four' poet-saints, alongside child saint Sambandar, saint Appar and saint Sundarar." (Vidya Dehejia, Chola: Sacred Bronzes of South India, London: Royal Academy Books, 2007, p. 104)

"The bronze deities created between the ninth and thirteenth centuries in the Tamil region of South India under the Chola dynasty are among India's most celebrated sculpted figures, hailed as exquisite artistic creations." (Dehejia, p. 26)




Other similar works in: this auction  |  entire site



  Lot 65 of 81  

CLASSICAL INDIAN ART | LIVE AUCTION, MUMBAI
9 MARCH 2017

Estimate
Rs 60,00,000 - 80,00,000
$90,910 - 121,215

RESERVE NOT MET













 



Need help? Please check our guides on How to Bid. Auction Tips and FAQs.Email [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Tel: +91 22 6855 4100 / 6855 4155 (Mumbai), (212) 627 5006 (New York), 44 (0) 20 7409 7974 (london), (91 11) 2436 9415 (New Delhi)