Indonesian Stone Statue of Vishnu

A club in one hand, a calm face above it, and a topknot that has outlasted its temple.

This statue of Vishnu comes from Java, Indonesia, and dates to the 15th century. It is carved from stone. Hindu sculpture flourished on Java for centuries, and Vishnu, the preserver among the major Hindu gods, was often shown seated and holding his attributes. Here the figure sits cross-legged against a rough back slab, a club raised in the right hand and the left resting on the knee. A tall crown of hair, a beaded collar and armbands survive in the porous stone, worn soft at every edge. It is 10 inches wide and 18 high.

Five centuries in, the posture has not slipped.