A RED SANDSTONE FIGURE OF KUBERA India, Madhya Pradesh, 8th/9th century

Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection
Pan-Asian Collection, acquired 1972.
Sotheby's New York, 23 March 2007, lot 11.

Formerly on loan to the Denver Art Museum

Wear, losses, accretion and scattered areas of white paint throughout. Losses, as viewed to nose and areas of lip, losses to two attendant figures behind Kubera. Losses to Kubera's right fingertips, bowl and left forearm. Could benefit from a light cleaning.
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Kubera is known primarily as the god of wealth and abundance, but he is also one of the Four Great Kings (maharaja) as well as one of the Eight Guardians (lokapala), and in the latter role is associated with the northerly direction. He is also identified with Vaishravana, Panchika and Jambhala and has a further role as leader of the yakshas, nature spirits derived from pre-Aryan traditions who were believed to have power over wealth, fertility and illness.

An association with Bacchanalian imagery could explain the Gupta iconographic convention depicting him holding a cup, probably for wine, while the rounded belly is indicative of prosperity and abundance. 

Compare with another sixth century example of Kubera from Uttar Pradesh in the Norton Simon Museum, see Pal, 1988, p. 25, fig. 6.