A RARE STONE STELE OF SHIVA BHAIRAVA, PALA EMPIRE, LATE 11TH TO EARLY 12TH CENTURY Northeastern India, Pala Empire, c. 1075. Standing in elegant tribhanga wearing a long dhoti secured with a belt, the sacred thread about his torso, adorned with multiple necklaces, armlets and earrings, the face with almond-shaped eyes and the hair pulled into a high chignon secured by a jeweled tiara. Provenance: From the Belgian private collection of M. Andral, by repute acquired before 1990. Condition: The surrounding frieze was resculpted later and decorated with seated deities in medallions. Some wear, erosion and weathering. Weight: 40.5 kg Dimensions: Height 65 cm (the stele) and 71.6 cm (incl. base) Shiva has four arms, holding a trident in the upper left hand, a damaru drum in the upper right, a sword in the lower right and the bearded head of Brahma, which he cut off and was thus cursed to hold for many years, in the lower left. Literature comparison: A related stele of Bhairava dated to c. 1300-1500 is in the permanent collection of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, object number 2000.6.