NEPAL, 17TH CENTURY

This rare form of Shiva is known as Shrikantha, “one with the beautiful throat.” Shrikantha stands in ardhaparyankasana (one leg dangling), embraced by his consort Guhyakali in cosmic union forming a kamakala, or union of creative power.
The present group is among few extant works depicting the esoteric subject. The petite lotus petals and beaded rim of the rectangular base suggest a late-Malla date for this uncommon image. Compare the iconography and tantric ornaments with another seventeenth-century example of this esoteric figure in the Norton Simon Museum (acc. no. M.1979.91.S).

Himalayan Art Resource (himalayanart.org), item no. 24419.