Statuary gray shale India Pala IX century

medieval Period

Height : 31.5 cm

Since ancient times, India has committed to women's special devotion. Figurines of the Indus Valley to the goddesses of fertility, passing through the protective goddesses carved in the Gupta period at the entrance of the holy places.

In medieval times, the woman remains a favorite subject for sculptors, whether Buddhist or Hindu. It appears, as here, as it retains a traditional look through the centuries : sensual.

The woman at the tree present a generous bust, his head tilted slightly and twist the torso may restore the original position tribangha or " triple flexion " feature of Indian sculpture.

The many ornaments that the parent (earrings, long beaded necklace) illustrate the strong taste of Indian women, from the earliest times to the present day, for items of adornment.

The naturalistic treatment of the body, the roundness of form, purity and grace make this sculpture, a work full of charm that was to adorn the walls of the shrines covered with a multitude of goddesses, the devatas who charm the gods by their presence, and " women in the tree " : the shâlabhanjikâ, symbol of fertility.

Symbol of fertility : Salabhanjika, or goddess of the tree is an embodiment of the regenerative forces of nature and the theme of divinity in the tree is one of the reasons of choice for sculptors of ancient India and medieval.

Goddess touch a mango tree in the canonical triple flexion position ; his touch or his mere presence is enough to flower the tree fertilizing power of the woman is transmuted and symbolically nourishing sap.

Antiquities
Ancient India