69. 69W STÈLE DE VISHNU EN PIERRE NOIRE INDE DU NORD-EST, ÉPOQUE PALA-SENA, VERS XIE SIÈCLE Inscribed on the base. Himalayan Art Resources item no. 4898 88.3 cm (34 3/4 in.) high A BLACKSTONE STELE OF VISHNU NORTHEASTERN INDIA, PALA-SENA PERIOD, CIRCA 11TH CENTURY 印度東北部 帕拉-塞納時期 約十一世紀 毗濕奴黑石碑 Provenance: With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s This Sena-period stele is distinguished by the rounded face and carved regalia of Vishnu, who stands at center in a frontal manner. In his upraised hands, Vishnu grasps a mace and chakra within his sinuous fingers. His lower hands hold a conch and offer the gesture of wish-granting (varadamudra). His consorts, Lakshmi and Sarasvati flank either side of his legs. A garuda is positioned below the lotus pedestal on which Vishnu stands framed by projecting flower heads and donor figures. At the top of the stele, celestial garland bearers are depicted on either side of the protective mask of the kirtimukha. For a closely related example attributed to Bangladesh in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, see Huntington, Leaves from the Bodhi Tree Dayton, 1989, no. 36. The stele also compares favorably to another of the same scale and subject sold at Sotheby's, New York, 17 March 2015, lot 1052. Also see examples sold at Christie's, New York, 12 September 2009, lot 579; Sotheby's, New York, 20 March 2013, lot 273; and Bonhams, New York, 23 September 2020, lot 642.