Indra, the Lord of the Gods, holds a central role in the legends, life and art of Nepal. The present sculpture depicts Indra seated in rajalilasana, the pose of “Royal Ease.” This relaxed posture, with one arm draped gracefully over a raised knee denoting pleasure or indulgence, is also reflected in Chinese Song sculptures of Kuan Yin (Avalokiteshvara). Developed locally, depictions of Indra in rajalilasana have become one of the most recognisable images in Nepalese art history. Wearing a short diaphanous dhoti and lavishly adorned with jewellery, Indra’s body is languid and supple, with rounded broad shoulders, a tapered waist and elongated arms. His square face displays an expression of joyful serenity, characterised by almond-shaped eyes, a horizontal third eye, an aquiline nose and a subtle smile. A lotus flower raises beside his left shoulder, with his vajra resting at its centre. The seated pose, along with the horizontal third eye on the forehead and the crescent-shaped crown, marks the signature characteristics specific to the Nepali representation of Indra.
For comparison, see lot 351 sold at Christie’s New York on 12 September 2018 for $12,500.