J.J. Lally & Co., Oriental Art / New York City, New York

22.
AN EARLY CARVED STEATITE FIGURE OF A LOKAPALA

Five Dynasties, 10th Century

the heavenly king and defender of Buddhist doctrine shown as a broad-shouldered muscular figure in a defiant attitude, vigorously standing with bare feet wide apart and head turned, glaring with wide eyes, the tendons in his neck stretched taut and bulging, his left hand held up in front of his chest with palm out and his right hand held down in front of his hip, also with palm facing out, his hair gathered into a lotus-bud-shaped topknot behind a low diadem, a wide halo with engraved flames and scroll motifs behind his head, dressed in a simple dhoti tied at the waist, with long beaded necklace looped across his chest and long sashes loosely draped over his shoulders and arms and hanging down to his knees, his arms and ankles with bracelets in the Indian manner, with a thick panel carved with swirling clouds behind his legs to form the base, the translucent stone of pale yellowish tone with traces of encrusted earth from burial.

Height 5 ¹⁄₈ inches (13 cm)

五代  滑石天王造像  高 13 厘米