Rare nandi majapahit

Nandi, the divine bull, stands on a rectangular base in an alert posture, head raised and tail swept back. Nandi wears a rope and a collar around his neck, as well as a foliage motif on his forehead, repeated on the sides of the base.

East Java, 13th-15th century.

Terracotta

51 x 63 cm

In Hinduism, Nandi, the lord of joy, is the guardian of quadrupeds. He is the white bull that serves as Shiva's mount. He is whispered to and intercedes with the god.

Provenance: Collection of Anacleto Spazzapan, acquired in Java between 1970 and 1980. Anacleto Spazzapan (born 1943) is an Italian archaeologist who, after his retirement, became a popular and renowned furniture designer. Important Italian private collection, acquired from the previous collection.

A thermoluminessence test dated April 21, 1999, confirms the dating.