A JAIN WHITE MARBLE BUST OF THE CHILD KRISHNA, 14TH-15TH CENTURY India, Rajasthan. Well carved, the face with large almond-shaped eyes below thick arched brows, full lips forming a subtle smile, the hair tied in a simple bun on top of the head and flanked by two ears suspending heavy circular earrings.

Provenance: Doris Wiener, New York, USA. A private collection in New York, acquired from the above. The stand with an old label of the Doris Wiener Gallery with inventory number 'R521-4'.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, a minor structural crack at the shoulder, losses and dents.

Weight: 3,478 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 26.3 cm (incl. stand), 18.6 cm (excl. stand)

Mounted on an associated wood base.

Jainism flourished in Western India between the 10th and 12th centuries, with many temples commissioned under the Solanki and Later Pratihara dynasties. The apex of craftsmanship is embodied in the most famous Dilwara temples, five buildings constructed between the 11th and 16th centuries, famous for their masterful, intricate carvings of white marble on Mount Abu itself. The present white marble bust is carved in a particular style found only in a small number of Rajasthani temples, including Dilwara.

The account of infant Krishna, rescued from his uncle after a prophecy of his death, tells how he was secretly sent away and raised in the village of Gokula as a cowherd. According to the legend, Krishna delighted in the indulgence of milk and would stealthily try to steel butterballs, or navanita. Upon his triumph, he would dance joyfully and gleefully at his prize.

Literature comparison:
Compare two related architectural marble sculptures, also attributed to Rajasthan, dated 13^th-14^th century and circa 1450, respectively, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession numbers M.71.73.132 and M.80.62. Note the similar manner of carving to the faces with large almond-shaped eyes and thick arched brows, as well as the heavy circular earrings.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 19 March 2014, lot 1087
Price: USD 11,875 or approx. EUR 14,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A black marble figure of Krishna Venugopala, India, Gujarat, circa 15th century
Expert remark: Compare the related manner of carving with similar facial features, hair, and earrings. Note the size of the full figure (66 cm).