A BRONZE PLAQUE DEPICTING VIRABHADRA, WESTERN DECCAN, INDIA, 17TH/18TH CENTURY the four-armed deity holding sword and shield in his primary hands, a bow and trident in his other two, wearing sandals and tall headdress, standing within an arched niche surmounted by a coiled cobra, flanked by diminutive figures of Daksha and Sati 26cm high Daksha had offended Siva at a sacrifice and his daughter. Sati, who was Siva's wife, felt so insulted that she threw herself on the pyre. Siva appeared as Virabhadra and cut off Daksha's head to avenge his wife. The gods pleaded for Daksha's life but his severed head could not be found, so the head of a goat was substituted instead. Descriptions in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports and all lots are sold as viewed. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in good condition. Prospective bidders are recommended to request a condition report prior to bidding, wherever possible satisfying themselves in person at the gallery as to the condition of a lot.