Indian sculpture in New York

An exhibition of Hindu and Buddhist sculpture is on in New York.

New York, March 08: An enigmatic sandstone figure representing an Indian god in the guise of a Zoroastrian governor of the late 6th century is among several fine pieces from the country on display at an exhibition. The Indian artifacts were displayed by reputed London dealer John Eskenazi at his annual exhibition.

One of the earliest and most remarkable of Eskenazi`s recent acquisitions is an elaborately decorated Bengali terracotta gourd-shaped vase dating from 2nd/1st century BC from Chandraketugarh near Kolkata. The terracotta vases of early Bengal are distinguishedby their intricate figurative decoration featuring divine and human figures in halcyon landscapes reminiscent of the region’s forests and waterways. The exhibition at Adam Williams Fine Art Ltd will be on till March 21, coinciding with New York`s Asia Week and the International Asian Art Fair. Eskenazi is considered one of the world`s most respected dealers in Indian, Gandharan, Himalayan and Southeast Asian works of art. Another work on display is a late 12th century bronze figure of Lakshmana, the devoted younger brother of the lord Rama. Among the Buddhist works are a 9th century phyllite stone sculpture from eastern India depicting the Bodhisattva Padmapani and a leonine head in terracotta from the 4th century kingdom of Nagarahara in Afghanistan, representing Vajrapani. The other works on display is the spiritual guide of the Buddha; a handsome 2nd century figure of a standing Buddha sculpted in grey schist exemplifying the preacher`s image that developed in Gandhara in the 1st and 2nd century. Bureau Report