Carved in relief within recessed niches, depicting the four-armed goddess Saraswati seated in ardhaparyankasana in the center, her primary hands hold the vina while the secondary hands hold a bell and a pot each, she is flanked by attendants and devotees on either side, the latter seated on makaras raising their offerings to the goddess of wisdom. To the extreme ends are two further goddesses, each with two lotus stocks in their raised hands and a water pot in their lowered left hand, the right hand in abhaya mudra. All under a running frieze of lozenges and disks.

Provenance: A private collection in the USA. Collection of Leonardo Vigorelli, Bergamo, acquired from above. Leonardo Vigorelli is a retired Italian art dealer and noted collector, specializing in African and ancient Hindu-Buddhist art. After studying anthropology and decades of travel as well as extensive field research in India, the Himalayan region, Southeast Asia, and Africa, he founded the Dalton Somaré art gallery in Milan, Italy, which today is being run by his two sons.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Old wear, losses, nicks, scratches, signs of weathering and erosion, soil encrustations, remnants of adhesive. One major crack to the left side of the relief. Displaying exceptionally well!
Italian Export License: Licenza Esport. Definit. N. 133, dated 22 September 2009, has been granted by the Ufficio Esportazione di Milano, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali. A copy accompanies this lot.

Dimensions: Height 35 cm, Length 168 cm

Expert’s note: This architectural temple fragment, rare and extraordinary for its size and preservation, stands as a remarkable testament not only to the historical and artistic wealth of Central India, but also to those who preserved it over the years. Fragments such as the present lot, provide a valuable glimpse into the sophisticated craftsmanship and cultural milieu of the time, despite being a relatively small part of a larger whole. Compare the closely related relief carvings at the Bhoramdeo Temple, Chhattisgarh, dated to 10^th-12^th century. Note the similar design on the band of lozenge interspersed by disks.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 11 September 2019, lot 305
Price: USD 275,000 or approx. EUR 305,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large and important buff sandstone relief with seven Matrikas, Central India, 8^th-9^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related relief carving. Note the size (134.6 cm).