Apsara 18th century - Patan (India)

An APSARA is a feminine spirit of the clouds and/of Buddhist culture in general. They occupy an important place in sculpture, dance, literature and painting.

There are two types of apsara: "laukika" (world) of which thirty-four are specified, and "daivika" (divine), of which there are ten.

In Indian mythology, apsaras are beautiful, young, supernatural and associated with the rite of fertility. In our culture, we would speak of angels or, rather, of muses.

The exceptional piece that we are selling is an Apsara – Indian and musician - who decorated a temple in Patan. Patan is currently a city in the state of Gujarat in India. But in the Middle-Age, Patan was the capital.

This piece was part of a series of 4 pieces that adorned, in height, the four corners of a temple. She entered a rather old Belgian collection. The collection was then dispersed and this piece was sold to a Belgian collector and investor in 2011.

For 10 years, it adorned the entrance hall of a law firm before being put up for sale today (with regrets from the owner who moved abroad).

It dates from the beginning of the 18th century, as evidenced by the invoice given for purchase and certified by a first-rate expert, member of the VVEKA (association of Flanders antiquities experts).

Price on request