Belle stèle en grès gris figurant Parvati, probablement est de l'Inde, Pala, 11ème/12ème siècle

H 73 - 72 cm (with and without base)

This fine Pala temple stele depicts a four-armed Parvati standing in a slight tribhanga posture. She wears royal jewellery, a crown (kiritamukuta) and full band decoration. Surrounding her are smaller seated figures in meditation posture: monks, siddhas, yogis or bodhisattvas. At the top is the image of Buddha surrounded by apsaras (celestial nymphs).

Typical Pala characteristics are the rich strings of beads, horizontal belt, long hanging hip bands, feet on a lotus-shaped pedestal, hair in a complex knot or tiara, and miniature figures symmetrically arranged around the main figure. The body is highly sensual, but not erotic, and intended as a Devī-śakti manifestation.

The whole forms an architectural temple stele and is probably a side panel of a mandapa or nishka planche, originally built into the wall of a temple or chaitya together with other devatā steles as a ritual and cosmic frame. The figure is a ritual architectural inhabitant of the temple and is not the central deity.

The upper architecture has kudu arches and chaitya windows, which points to the Nalanda style with influence from Bodh Gaya. It is an architectural Devī in a Buddhist-tinged environment, typical of the Pala world.
The piece is artistically mature, iconographically rich and historically very interesting. Pala sculpture is considered among the most beautiful category of medieval East Indian architectural sculpture.

Provenance:
- Ex-collection family Goethals de Mude de Nieuwland, Castle Borgwal (link), Gavere, Belgium. Acquired by this family in the 1930s-50s.
- The grandparents of the current owners (Mr. and Mrs. V.M.-L., Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium) worked as live-in staff at the castle. Upon their retirement, the castle lord donated it as a token of appreciation. Then subsequently passed on to the current owners through inheritance. We have added old photos of the castle and of the couple, who worked as live-in staff.

Condition:
- In good condition, with small losses as visible and one more important loss to the upper right arm. Superficial wear and encrustation throughout.