#rare objects

Dancing Ganesha, Red Sandstone (ca. 10th century) A ten-armed sculpture of the Hindu god Ganesha captures him in a playful dance (nritta). Created under the Kalacuri dynasty in Madhya Pradesh, India, the figure is adorned with attributes that reference his father, Shiva, including two snakes, one as a sacred thread across his chest. As the Remover of Obstacles, the red sandstone figure was intended for a temple niche to clear the path between the worshipper and the divine while bestowing prosperity. Loc. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Dim. 91.4 cm H x 50.8 cm W (36 x 20 in.).

Apollo, oil on canvas (1874) Briton Rivière (British, 1840–1920) debuted this work at the Royal Academy in 1874. The scene illustrates a passage from Euripides describing the Greek god Apollo as a shepherd in the halls of Admetus, where his music draws predators and prey together in peace.

Feeding the Peacocks, oil on canvas (1910) William Baxter Palmer Closson (1848–1926) created this quintessential American Impressionist scene, a harmonious interaction with peacocks, symbols of grace and femininity. The painting is celebrated for its Impressionistic play of light and shimmering texture. Loc. The National Arts Club, New York. Dim. 116.8 cm H x 71.1 cm W (46 x 28 in.).

Aztec Sun Stone, Olivine basalt (ca. 1502–1520) Carved during the reign of Moctezuma II (Aztec, ca. 1466–1520), this basalt monolith depicts the solar eras of Mexica mythology. The central deity Tonatiuh appears surrounded by symbols of the four previous world ages and sophisticated astronomical reliefs. Discovered in 1790, the stone likely served as a ceremonial altar or vessel rather than a functional calendar. It stands as a primary testament to the complex religious and artistic traditions of the Aztec empire at the time of the Spanish arrival. Loc. National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City. Dim. 358 x 358 x 98 cm (141 x 141 x 38.5 in)

Egyptian Ibis, mixed media sculpture (1069–664 B.C.) Egyptian artisans of the Third Intermediate Period crafted this figure using a combination of banded alabaster for the body and bronze for the extremities. The ibis served as the sacred manifestation of Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing. Such figures were frequently deposited as votive offerings in animal catacombs during the later dynasties. Loc. Private Collection. Dim. 15.2 cm H (6 in.)

Portrait of a Woman, said to be of Simonetta Vespucci, tempera on panel (ca. 1480) Piero di Cosimo (Italian, 1462–1522) presents a striking profile often identified as Simonetta Vespucci, the legendary muse of Botticelli. Simonetta features an elaborate, pearl-entwined hairstyle. A small snake curls around her gold necklace, a connection to the death of Cleopatra or an allegory of wisdom.