11C Ambika Buff Sandstone Western India

From Western India.

This piece has impeccable provenance!

It was purchased by a Private Dallas Collector at Sotheby’s New York Auction on 24th September 2004. Sale Number 8008, Lot No. 20.

Sotheby’s operate a twice yearly auction of Southeast Asian Art & Antiquities in New York in the months of March and September.

The sculpture was described as: “The panel carved in relief with the Goddess standing in a graceful posture at center, balancing a child on her left hip and holding a bunch of radishes in her right hand, another child standing at her right and a lion crouching at her left. Ambika is flanked by an elephant and lion on either side, each with raised foreleg, set within recessed niches separated by pilasters,

11th-12th century.

Measures: 13 by 26.75 in. (33 by 68 cm.)

Property from an Upstate New York Collection.”

It carried an Auction estimate of USD 5,000 to USD 7,000 and sold for USD 5,400 (not including buyer’s premium).

Allowing for inflation alone, this would be over $10,750 in today’s value. At top estimate, this would be over $14,000 in today’s value.

The original Sotheby’s lot no. label is still attached, as is the catalogue label on the back.

It has substantially increased in value over the years as a rare piece from a prestigious collection and a rare piece of Asian antiquity.