Published: Ulrich von Schroeder, Nepalese Stone Sculptures, Volume One – Hindu, p 422-423, item number 133D.

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, 10^th-11^th century. The stele depicting the Hindu god of protection raised on a lotus throne against a flaming prabhamandala, having four arms, holding a conch, a flaming wheel, a mace, and a lotus flower. The figure with an elaborate diadem and trailing celestial garments.

Provenance: Spink & Son, London, 1987. Raymond Handley, Los Altos Hills, California, acquired from the above, and thence by descent to his wife Marsha Vargas Handley. A copy of the invoice from Spink & Son, dated 6 July 1987, and confirming the dating above, accompanies this lot. Raymond G. Handley (1923-2009) partnered with Ray Renault in the 1950s to co-found one of California’s oldest and most successful real estate development firms. They were pioneers in shaping the early landscape of Silicon Valley, developing buildings for major tech innovators such as Intel and Raytheon, laying the groundwork for the region’s transformation into a global technology hub. Raymond Handley was a keen collector of art who traveled extensively, including the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea and Africa. In Mali, where his brother served as the Ambassador of the United States, he drilled more than fifty water wells for Dogon villages. His passion led him to establish Folk Art International/Xanadu Tribal Arts, an ethnographic art business which developed into the Xanadu Gallery in the late 1990s, located in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright building off Union Square, and continued by his widow Marsha Vargas Handley until her retirement in 2015. Having opened her first gallery in the Bay Area in 1973, she is an important figure in the Asian art world in her own right, serving as the president of the International Netsuke Society for over 16 years. Raymond Handley’s first visit to Spink & Son took place in the early 1980s, between Christmas and New Year’s, when much of the staff was away on vacation. During this visit, Raymond was captivated by the gallery's impressive selection of fine works and quickly amassed a collection of over 100 items he intended to purchase. This large number caused some concern for Anthony Gardner, head of Spink’s Southeast Asian Department, who had never dealt with such a sizable transaction. As the total approached 108 items, Anthony suggested Raymond stop there, citing it as an auspicious number. To this day, 108 remains the record for the most works sold in a single day, and it became customary thereafter for the staff to remain at work during the holiday period.
Condition: Superb condition, especially considering the age of this stele. Expected wear, few minor losses, the right hand with an old repair, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, structural fissures, light scratches, small nicks, remnants of pigment.

Weight: 52.6 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 68 cm (excl. stand), 76 cm (incl. stand)

With an associated metal stand. (2)

The name Shridara comes from two Sanskrit words: Shri, a title for the goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, who symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and beauty; and Dhara, meaning ‘bearer’ or ‘holder’. Together, Shridara signifies Vishnu as the bearer of Lakshmi, highlighting his role as the sustainer of prosperity and well-being. In Hindu worship, Vishnu as Shridara represents the ideal harmony between spiritual and material wealth, where the Divine ensures that prosperity is upheld in a righteous and balanced manner. In this form, Vishnu not only protects individuals but also safeguards.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related stone stele of Vishnu, 83.8 cm high, dated to the 10^th century, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, object number B86S9.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 1999, lot 84
Price: USD 46,000 or approx. EUR 85,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A stone stele of Buddha Shakyamuni, Nepal, circa 12th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form, modeling, and manner of carving. Note different subject and the size (78.2 cm).