LOT 0247

Rajasthan Red Sandstone Figures of Celestial Musicians

11TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.

21 in. (55.1 kg total, 53 cm high including stand each).

Depicting two celestial musicians: one holding a stringed instrument, head turned to the right; the other playing a drum, head turned to the left; each positioned to create a sense of movement and carved with very fine details, including carefully manicured hair and facial hair, extensive jewellery and beautifully crisp eyelids; mounted on modern steel bases. [2]

Private collection, Rome, acquired in the 1980s.
with Christie's, New York, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, 21 September 2007, no.70 [$60,000-$80,000].

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13376-259008.

See S. K. and U. Sharma, Art, Architecture and Memoirs of Rajasthan Rajput, 2000, for discussion.

Sculpture and music have played a prominent part in the cultural development of Indian civilisation. From the representation of the dynamic art of music and dancing on sculpture, we can acquire knowledge of the type of music and dance practised at different periods, and in the study of the history and evolution of music in general and musical instruments in particular.