Lot 159, Auction 4/3/2026: 17th C. Indian Pink Sandstone Fragment – Narasimha

$650.00

In stock

South Asia, India, Mughal Empire, ca. 17th century CE. A compelling sandstone fragment depicting Narasimha, the fierce lion-headed avatar of Vishnu, seated in regal repose. The deity’s leonine visage, though weathered by time, retains its commanding presence – a face once ferocious now softened by centuries of devotion and exposure. Narasimha sits cross-legged within a recessed architectural niche, his muscular arms bearing the vestiges of attributes that once proclaimed divine might. The composition is framed by cylindrical columns, characteristic of temple facades from the Mughal-period ateliers that inherited and transformed earlier Hindu sculptural traditions. Carved from warm pink sandstone native to northern India, the surface still carries the grain and pulse of the chisel’s rhythm, suggesting the hand of a regional craftsman conversant with the enduring iconography of Vaishnavism. Size: 3″ L x 17″ W x 13″ H (7.6 cm x 43.2 cm x 33 cm); 16.5″ H (41.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Narasimha’s form represents the fourth incarnation of Vishnu, the “Man-Lion” who tore apart the tyrant Hiranyakashipu to protect the devoted Prahlada – a myth symbolizing the triumph of faith over arrogance. Reliefs of this subject were often integrated into temple walls as moral exempla, their dynamic energy frozen mid-transcendence. This example reflects the stylistic transition between the late medieval Hindu idiom and the Mughal-era penchant for architectural refinement. The piece’s worn surface, broken edges, and softened modeling reveal both its antiquity and its passage through ritual, ruin, and rediscovery.

Condition: Fragment as shown with nicks, chips and abrasions, as well as losses especially to face. Otherwise, very nice presentation with liberal remaining detail and nice patina to surface.

Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA; ex-private Loveland, Colorado, USA collection

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