A gilt copper figure representing the six armed goddess Vasudhara is expected to lead Bonhams' Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art auction on March 18.
Purveyor of prosperity, the 13th century Vasudhara figurine has been given a $60,000-80,000 estimate ahead of the sale, testament to her age and rarity.
 Fertile and generous, Vasudhara remains popular among worshippers |
Hailing from Nepal, the statuette sits with her right foot cushioned by a plump lotus flower, and is inset with a number of rubies and semi-precious stones. She remains popular among worshippers seeking good fortune.
New York's highly anticipated Asian art week, which will include this, and several other major art auctions, is expected to draw international buyers, with Sotheby's auctioning a rare and valuable Qing dynasty seal valued at $1.5m.
China has the world's third highest number of millionaires (1.4m), having added 193,000 in the space of a year, according to Boston Consulting Group's 2012 Global Wealth report. This has sparked increased demand for Asian, particularly Chinese, collectibles.
For more information on the investment potential of the market, see Paul Fraser Collectibles' free guide to investing in art and photography.
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