10th-12th century AD. A carved basalt figure fragment of ?iva (Mahadeva) standing wearing a tight-fitting sampot; stern facial features and detailed kirita-mukuta headdress; mounted on a custom-made stand. Cf. similar lot sold in Christie's, New York, Indian and Southeast Asian Art sale, 19 March 2014, lot 1124. 59 kg total, 99cm including stand (39"). Property of a Cambridgeshire gentleman since 1990; previously in a private collection formed in the 1980s; accompanied by a scholarly note TL 5274 by Dr Ronald Bonewitz. Shiva is one of the three main gods in Hinduism, encompassing enlightenment and the re-creation of the world after its destruction. Fine condition.