A GRANITE STELE OF SHIVA ARDHANARISHVARA AND NANDI, CHOLA PERIOD, SOUTH INDIA, TAMIL NADU, 11TH-12TH CENTURY

Expert’s note:
This inspiring statue was originally carved to depict Ardhanarishvara, Shiva’s half-male and half-female form, as indicated by the earring on the left ear, and especially the left half of the chest with an area of loss where a female breast once was, a crucial detail not mentioned by Christie’s Amsterdam when they sold this figure in 2007. Ardhanarishvara (lit. 'The half-female Lord'), is a form of the Hindu deity Shiva combined with his consort Parvati, depicted as half-male and half-female, equally split down the middle. The right half is usually the male Shiva, illustrating his traditional attributes, including his abode Nandi, such as in the present lot.

Superbly and deeply carved standing in tribhanga and leaning against Nandi, his four arms holding attributes including a trishula, and wearing a dhoti. The deity adorned with beaded jewelry, the face with a serene expression, the hair crowned with a high chignon.


Provenance:
Werner Coninx, Zurich, Switzerland, and thence by descent within the same family. Christie’s Amsterdam, 21 November, 2007, lot 569, sold for EUR 7,450 or approx.
EUR 11,000
(adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), by repute acquired from the above. A noted European private collection, acquired from the above. Werner Coninx (1911-1980) was one of the world's most voracious art collectors. The son of a prominent Swiss publisher, and a friend of the important Swiss novelist Max Frisch, who mentioned Coninx in his novel Montauk, he amassed some 14,000 paintings, drawings, and sculptures during his lifetime. In terms of sheer size, his art collection was probably the largest in Switzerland. Broadly based, ranging from Swiss art to German Expressionism and French Impressionism to East Asian art, ancient Greece, and Africa, it remains unforgotten to this day.

Condition
: Condition commensurate with age. Extensive wear, losses, cracks, nicks, and signs of weathering and erosion, natural encrustations, all as expected from a granite figure with almost an entire millennium of age. The stone with a beautiful and smooth surface, nicely worn down from centuries of rain and devoted worship within the culture, resulting in a remarkably unctuous feel overall.

Weight: 151.4 kg (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 100 cm (excl. stand) and 101 cm (incl. stand)

With an associated metal stand. (2)


The earliest Ardhanarishvara images
are dated to the Kushan period, starting from the first century CE. Its iconography evolved and was perfected in the Gupta era. The Puranas and various iconographic treatises write about the mythology and iconography of Ardhanarishvara, which remains a popular iconographic form found in most Shiva temples throughout India today, though very few temples are dedicated to this deity.


Ardhanarishvara represents the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies
of the universe (Purusha and Prakriti) and illustrates how Shakti, the female principle of God, is inseparable from (or the same as, according to some interpretations) Shiva, the male principle of God, and vice versa. The union of these principles is exalted as the root and womb of all creation. Another view is that Ardhanarishvara is a symbol of Shiva's all-pervasive nature.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2008, lot 758
Price: USD 51,400 or approx.
EUR 68,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A granite figure of Vishnu, South India, Chola period, 12th/13th century
Expert remark: Note the slightly larger size (113.7 cm).