Christie's to host two major sales of Indian works

Auction major Christie's will host two sales this month that will offer a selected collection of over 200 sculpture, paintings, ritual objects, and works of art from India, Nepal and other Southeast Asian countries.

Auction major Christie's will host two sales this month that will offer a selected collection of over 200 sculpture, paintings, ritual objects, and works of art from India, Nepal and other Southeast Asian countries.

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The 'Highlights from the Star Collection: From India to Indonesia' on March 20 will be followed by the Indian and Southeast Asian Art range.

The 'Highlights ...', comprises 21 sculptures from an expansive geographical range.

The most prominent work is an important buff sandstone figure of Sachika in Rajasthan, dated to 1179 (estimate: $200,000-300,000), a finely-detailed carving of the goddess standing with one foot atop a buffalo as her lion bites into its hindquarters.

A gray schist figure of a winged Atlas, Gandhara, (estimate: $120,000-180,000), is of particular interest as it was recently rediscovered. Its counterpart is currently in the collection of the Norton Simon Museum.

The highlight of the Indian and Southeast Asian Art sale is a large and important bronze group of Shiva and Uma as Somaskanda in Tamil Nadu during the 13th century Chola dynasty (estimate: $600,000-800,000).

Other fine Indian art to be offered include a bronze figure of Vishnu, a bronze figure of Parvati, a green stone figure of Surya and a 1775 painting of a Mughal princess observing fireworks under moon light.