Pala Black Stone Sculpture of Dancing Shiva

An important black stone carving done in high relief as a stele, depicting a twelve-armed dancing Shiva (Nataraja). The deity has his hair piled high in a jata, and is naked save for his jewelry – double-strand necklace, arm-bands, bracelets, anklets and a sacred jeweled chain-thread over his left shoulder. His uppermost hands hold an animal skin (an antelope – his yogic seat) over his head. His phallus is erect, and he holds various implements, his bull-vehicle Nandi behind him near his left leg, along with a standing female figure (possibly representing his consort Parvati/Uma). The podium has small Gana figures in relief. Nice overall surface, well finished and polished in parts, the face partially damaged, probably from the Moslem invasions of Eastern India.
From the Pala culture of Eastern India or Bangladesh, circa 10th century AD.
Formerly in the James and Marilyn Alsdorf Collection, Chicago, USA.
It is on a marble collectors mount (base).
Height: 19.5 inches
HS008