A BLACK STONE STELE OF VARUNI, THE GODDESS OF... Lot n° 13

A BLACK STONE STELE OF VARUNI, THE GODDESS OF WINE, NEPAL, 13TH CENTURY Finely and deeply carved, the four-armed deity seated in dhyanasana on her vahana the makara. She is dressed in a short dhoti and adorned in beaded jewelry. Her sensitively carved face with a serene expression marked by almond-shaped eyes and full lips forming a calm smile flanked by circular earrings, her neatly incised hair secured by a floral tiara, backed by a flaming mandorla centered at the top by a kirtimukha, the upper arms holding accoutrements including a pot of wine, and flanked by two roundels enclosing a floral design. Provenance: From the private collection of Jean-Marc Andral, acquired at Galerie Carré des Antiques Versailles in the early 2000s. A copy of a provenance statement, written and signed by Jean-Marc Andral, dated 21 October 2023, confirming the above, accompanies this lot. Jean-Marc Andral is a Belgian manager based in Brussels and active in the healthcare industry for over 25 years. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, repairs to the upper section, small chips, scratches, losses, touchups, and structural cracks. The stone covered in a rich, naturally grown patina with some ancient encrustations. Weight: 38.7 kg Dimensions: Height 61.5 cm Varuni is the name of multiple goddesses associated with the Hindu god Varuna — his wife (also known as Varunani), his daughter (the goddess of wine), and the personification of his shakti (A matrika or mother goddess). Sometimes, these goddesses are identified as one deity. In this context, she is the goddess of wine, who emerged during the Samudra Manthana (churning of the ocean) and chose Varuna as her consort. Literature comparison: Compare a related black stone stele depicting Simhavahini Durga, dated to the 13th century, in the National Museum of Nepal. Compare a related black stone stele depicting Varuni, 73 cm high, dated to the 13th century, in the National Museum, New Delhi, accession number 50.179.