India, Kashmir, 8th century

a collection of prayers, arabic manuscript on paper, 126ff. plus four flyleaves, each folio with 14ll. of elegant black naskh on gold ground within gold and blue rules, headings in white naskh on blue and gold cartouches, the opening folio with gold and polychrome illuminated headpiece and gold stenciling in the margins, flyleaves with later owners' notes, in original lacquered binding with golden ground decorated with floral motifs, gold floral decoration to doublures

5 1/2 x 2 6⁄8in. (13.9 x 7cm.) 6 3/4 x 3 5/8in. (17.2 x 9.2cm.)

Oct 27, 2022 • Christie's

Powerfully carved in the round in gently swayed _tribhanga_, holding his conch and a lotus flowerhead, wearing a finely fitted dhoti, armlets, necklaces and an elaborate tiara, his face with a benign expression and backed by an ovoid smoothly polished halo

26.5 cm.

Mar 20, 2008 • Christie's