A PINK SANDSTONE FIGURE OF KUBERA, MATHURA Northern India, 5^th-6^th century. Kubera is seated in rajalilasana holding a drinking cup in his right hand and in his left a long purse. He is richly adorned with elaborate jewelry, including a foliate collar and armlets. His hair is gathered into a ribbed coiffure secured with a twisted fillet.

Provenance: From an old Austrian private collection.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, losses, structural cracks, few nicks and scratches.

Weight: 32.2 kg
Dimensions: Height 45.8 cm (excl. base), 47.7 cm (incl. base)

Kubera is known primarily as the god of wealth and abundance, but he is also one of the Four Great Kings (maharajas) as well as one of the Eight Guardians (lokapala), and in the latter role is associated with the northerly direction. He is further identified with Vaishravana, Panchika and Jambhala and has a part as leader of the yakshas, nature spirits derived from pre-Aryan traditions who were believed to have power over wealth, fertility, and illness.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related pink sandstone figure of Kubera, dated 5^th-6^th century, Mathura, in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IM.322-1921.