A WHITE MARBLE RELIEF FRAGMENT MOUNT ABU REGION, INDIA, CIRCA 12TH CENTURY |

the figure standing in an lively tribhanga pose, holding a fly-whisk and ritual vase, wearing a dhoti, floral garland, beaded jewelry and tiered conical crown, a rampant vyala and dancing figure at right

Sotheby's New York, September 21, 1995, lot 235.
Sotheby's Park Bernet, December 10, 1980, lot 97. 

In good overall condition for an object of this type and age. With overall accretion throughout. With a flaking red and orange substance visible in the upper most part of the sculpture and minor areas along the left side of the sculpture. Missing areas on circular ornaments both on upper left and upper right of the sculpture. Areas of the main figure re-polished and reworked, especially along the face, upper torso and the fly whisk held in figure's proper left hand. The dancing figure on the bottom right also re-polished and reworked.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The white marble used for constructing the Jain temples of Mount Anu in Rajasthan are some of the most exquisite monuments of the Solanki period (ca 950-1304). The location, considered to be a sacred site for the Jains, is heavily carved both architecturally and decoratively of a "porcelain-like marble [that] lends an ethereal beauty." (J. C. Harle, The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, p. 228)

The celestial atmosphere created from this almost translucent marble is further articulated from a style that elongates, tapers and contorts the physical form. In this example, the limbs are sinewy, the weight resting on the right foot pushes the right hip to the side while the left hip continues to thrust forward with the left knee protruding. The frame around the figure controls the movement, while the ornamentation of the dhoti, floral garland, ritual vase and fly-whisk propels it. The features here are both angular and twisted, the movement contained yet encouraged creating what seems like a deliberate tension of fast and slow, stillness and dynamism.