12th-13th century AD. A standing figure of Prajnaparamita in black granite with ribbed sanghati to hips, the hair gathered tight to the head and surmounted by a four-lobed bun held with a band; mounted on custom-made stand for display. See Sotheby’s, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, New York, 20 September 2002, for sculptures of similar style and date.41 kg total, 129cm including stand (51"). Property of a Cambridgeshire gentleman since 1990; previously in a private collection formed in the 1980s; accompanied by geological report No. TL3254 by geology consultant Dr R. L. Bonewitz; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.157941-10044. Prajnaparamita, 'the Mother of Buddhas', is held as an incarnation of the divine word. Buddhist belief holds that this goddess is the deification of the Prajnaparamita-sutra, a sacred religious text in which Gautama Buddha is reputed to have put forward his teachings. 'Prajnaparamita' means 'perfection of insight'.