Cleveland Museum of Art to Auction Works at Sotheby’s

CLEVELAND (February 14, 2017) – As part of the ongoing review of its collections, the Cleveland Museum of Art has identified 12 Indian and Southeast Asian artworks for deaccessioning through public auction. In keeping with the museum’s policy and the accepted guidelines established by the field, all proceeds from the sale of these works will be used to support future art acquisitions. The decision to deaccession these works was recommended by the museum curatorial and senior staff and the motion was passed unanimously by the museum’s Board of Trustees collections committee. 

 “We believe the funds raised from the auction of these deaccessioned sculptures can be utilized to augment the collection in meaningful ways that will impact our audiences’ experiences in the galleries,” said Director William Griswold. 

These works will be included in Sotheby’s upcoming “Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art” auction, held during New York’s Asia Week from March 9-18.

Objects from the Cleveland Museum of Art include:

Seated Buddha. Pakistan, Gandhara, Kushan Period (1st century-320.) Gray schist; 129.5 x 78.8 cm.

Head of a Bodhisattva. Pakistan, Gandhara, Kushan Period (1st century-320.) Gray schist; 16.2 cm.

Head of a Female. Pakistan, Gandhara, Kushan Period (1st century-320.) Gray schist; 16.2 cm.

Buddhist Head. Afghanistan or Pakistan, Gandhara, Kushan Period (1st century-320.) Stucco; 20.4 cm.

Ganas (Two Dwarfs.) North Central India, Gupta period (320-647.) Stone with traces of polychromy; 45.7 x 23.8 cm.

Head of Buddha. West India, Chalukya, 7th-9th Century. Chlorite, black; 24.13 cm.

Buddha Calling on the Earth to Witness. India, Magadha, Pala Period (c.750-c.1200.) Schist; 30.48 x 21.59 cm.

Female Figure, Surasundari as Apsaras or Yakshi. India, Western Rajasthan or Gujaratt, 11th-12th century. Marble; 71.12 x 20.32 cm.

Parvati, Consort of Shiva. South India, Chola period (900-13th Century.) Copper; 33.02 cm.

Shiva and Parvati. South India, Chola period (900-13th century.) Copper; base: 8.58 x 22.86 x 9.53 cm; part 1: h. 25.4 cm; part 2: h. 21 cm.

Head of Buddha. Cambodia, probably from Angkor Borei, Pre Angkorean Period (600-802.) Gray sandstone; 25.4 x 19.1 cm.

Head of Buddha. Cambodia, Angkor Thom, possibly from the neighborhood of Banteay-Srei, Reign of Jayavarman VII (?.)Sandstone; 34.4 cm.

More information on these and other works in the sale can be found at sothebys.com.