7th Mar, 2025 11:00
A Museum Treasury of Buddhist and Himalayan Art: The Peter Kienzle-Hardt Collection Part I
110
A MONUMENTAL AND IMPORTANT BRONZE MODEL OF THE KRISHNA MANDIR IN PATAN, WITH A BRONZE FIGURE OF BALAKRISHNA
This lot is a museum deaccession and is therefore offered without reserve
€5,000
€10,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
Nepal, 18th-19th century. Constructed of several parts, the Shikhara-style temple is raised on a tiered square base, adorned with recumbent lions, and rising to three storeys. The lowest floor is a blind storey but has an ‘andhakarika’, a seven bayed colonnaded circumambulatory on each side on the exterior. These pillars support the perforated railing provided around the terrace of the upper level which is embellished with eight well-proportioned cupolas located at the centers of its four sides and at four corners. Housed within the inner sanctum of the first floor is a small bronze idol of Balakrishna. (2)
The third floor is also recessed to form a terrace in the round and is provided with eight cupolas framing the octagonal sanctum. The uppermost storey has a slender and towering shikhara over the central core with portico-like structures in the four cardinal directions and is crowned with a ‘double ghanta’ Gajura.
Provenance: The Kienzle Family Collection, Stuttgart, Germany. Acquired between 1950 and 1985 by siblings Else (1912-2006), Reinhold (1917-2008), and Dr. Horst Kienzle (1924-2019), during their extensive travels in Asia. Subsequently inherited by Dr. Horst Kienzle and bequeathed to the Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Radevormwald, Germany. Released through museum deaccession in 2024. The Kienzle siblings were avid travelers and passionate collectors of Asian and Islamic art. During their travels, the Kienzle’s sought out and explored temples, monasteries, and markets, always trying to find the best pieces wherever they went, investing large sums of money and forging lasting relationships to ensure they could acquire them. Their fervor and success in this pursuit is not only demonstrated by their collection but further recorded in correspondences between Horst Kienzle and several noted dignitaries, businesses and individuals in Nepal and Ladakh. Their collection had gained renown by the 1970s, but the Kienzle’s stopped acquiring new pieces around 1985. Almost thirty years later, the collection was moved to the Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Radevormwald, opened by Peter Hardt in 2014. Before his death in 2019, Horst Kienzle bequeathed his entire property to Peter Hardt and legally adopted him as his son, who has been using the name Peter Kienzle-Hardt ever since.
Condition: Good condition with wear and casting irregularities. Some warping, few scratches, tiny nicks, and small losses. With a fine, naturally grown patina overall.
Dimensions: Height 98 cm (excl. stand)
With an associated stand. (2)
Krishna Mandir, a jewel of Patan Durbar Square, stands as a testament to the artistic and cultural ingenuity of the Malla period in Nepal. Built in 1637 by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, the temple was inspired by a divine vision. According to legend, the king dreamt of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha standing in front of his palace, which led him to commission this magnificent temple. The Krishna Mandir was constructed entirely of stone, a significant departure from the traditional brick and timber architecture of the region. Its Shikhara-style design reflects Indian influences, while the intricate stone carvings showcase the unparalleled craftsmanship of Newar artisans. The temple’s carvings vividly depict scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, emphasizing the temple’s role as both a religious and educational center. Over centuries, Krishna Mandir has withstood earthquakes and remains a revered landmark, symbolizing the enduring legacy of Nepal's rich spiritual and artistic traditions.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related bronze model of the Krishna Mandir in Patan, dated to the 20th century, in the National Museum of Nepal, Kathmandu.
Nepal, 18th-19th century. Constructed of several parts, the Shikhara-style temple is raised on a tiered square base, adorned with recumbent lions, and rising to three storeys. The lowest floor is a blind storey but has an ‘andhakarika’, a seven bayed colonnaded circumambulatory on each side on the exterior. These pillars support the perforated railing provided around the terrace of the upper level which is embellished with eight well-proportioned cupolas located at the centers of its four sides and at four corners. Housed within the inner sanctum of the first floor is a small bronze idol of Balakrishna. (2)
The third floor is also recessed to form a terrace in the round and is provided with eight cupolas framing the octagonal sanctum. The uppermost storey has a slender and towering shikhara over the central core with portico-like structures in the four cardinal directions and is crowned with a ‘double ghanta’ Gajura.
Provenance: The Kienzle Family Collection, Stuttgart, Germany. Acquired between 1950 and 1985 by siblings Else (1912-2006), Reinhold (1917-2008), and Dr. Horst Kienzle (1924-2019), during their extensive travels in Asia. Subsequently inherited by Dr. Horst Kienzle and bequeathed to the Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Radevormwald, Germany. Released through museum deaccession in 2024. The Kienzle siblings were avid travelers and passionate collectors of Asian and Islamic art. During their travels, the Kienzle’s sought out and explored temples, monasteries, and markets, always trying to find the best pieces wherever they went, investing large sums of money and forging lasting relationships to ensure they could acquire them. Their fervor and success in this pursuit is not only demonstrated by their collection but further recorded in correspondences between Horst Kienzle and several noted dignitaries, businesses and individuals in Nepal and Ladakh. Their collection had gained renown by the 1970s, but the Kienzle’s stopped acquiring new pieces around 1985. Almost thirty years later, the collection was moved to the Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Radevormwald, opened by Peter Hardt in 2014. Before his death in 2019, Horst Kienzle bequeathed his entire property to Peter Hardt and legally adopted him as his son, who has been using the name Peter Kienzle-Hardt ever since.
Condition: Good condition with wear and casting irregularities. Some warping, few scratches, tiny nicks, and small losses. With a fine, naturally grown patina overall.
Dimensions: Height 98 cm (excl. stand)
With an associated stand. (2)
Krishna Mandir, a jewel of Patan Durbar Square, stands as a testament to the artistic and cultural ingenuity of the Malla period in Nepal. Built in 1637 by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, the temple was inspired by a divine vision. According to legend, the king dreamt of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha standing in front of his palace, which led him to commission this magnificent temple. The Krishna Mandir was constructed entirely of stone, a significant departure from the traditional brick and timber architecture of the region. Its Shikhara-style design reflects Indian influences, while the intricate stone carvings showcase the unparalleled craftsmanship of Newar artisans. The temple’s carvings vividly depict scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, emphasizing the temple’s role as both a religious and educational center. Over centuries, Krishna Mandir has withstood earthquakes and remains a revered landmark, symbolizing the enduring legacy of Nepal's rich spiritual and artistic traditions.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related bronze model of the Krishna Mandir in Patan, dated to the 20th century, in the National Museum of Nepal, Kathmandu.
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Auction: A Museum Treasury of Buddhist and Himalayan Art: The Peter Kienzle-Hardt Collection Part I, 7th Mar, 2025
NEW: WATCH OUR VIDEO ABOUT THE PROVENANCE
This treasury of art, assembled over decades by the Kienzle siblings and perserved by their sole heir Peter Kienzle-Hardt, reflects not only their fascination with Asian culture but also their respect for the heritage of the regions they explored. Learn more.
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