An 11th-12th-century Vishnu sculpture from India’s Pala era entered a Swiss collection, sold at a 1973 auction and stayed with its buyer for 53 years before fetching Rs 8.16 crore, over nine times the high estimate

A blackstone sculpture of Vishnu, dating to the 11th or 12th century, sold for £635,000 at Christie’s auction. The sculpture was previously part of a Swiss collection and first sold in March 1973. Over the years, the artwork maintained its significance and desirability among collectors. In June 2026, it was auctioned again as part of a collection focusing on South Asian art.