Central Tibet, circa 1430-1440. Superbly cast, seated in dhyanasana atop a double lotus base with beaded edges, holding aloft a flaming sword in his raised right hand, his left forming the surya mudra and holding a lily stem coming to full bloom at his shoulder and supporting a sutra.

Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear. Minimal casting flaws, few minuscule nicks, some rubbing and minor losses to the gilt, some inlays lost and others possibly replaced. Traces of red and blue pigment. The base resealed.

Provenance:
-An old private collection in Austria, acquired in 1980.
-A Hungarian private collection, acquired from the above in 2000.
-Nagel Auctions, 23 June 2021, lot 87, dated 15^th century and attributed to Sonam Gyaltsen, sold for EUR 34,850 or EUR 43,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing.
-Jules Speelman, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the above.

A copy of a provenance letter, signed by Jules Speelman, confirming that the present lot is dedicated “to Sonam Gyaltsen” and originates from the Jules Speelman private collection, accompanies this lot.

Jules Speelman is a world-leading dealer and collector of East Asian art with 60 years of experience. In 1964 he joined his late father, Alfred, in the family business which already stretched back three generations to 19th century Holland and expanded into England around the turn of the century. Originally, A & J Speelman dealt with antiques, from European ceramics, silver, tapestries, and furniture to Chinese porcelain, and works of art. With his father, Jules gradually shifted the focus towards Asia and under Jules Speelman's skilled direction, A & J Speelman is now considered amongst the foremost dealers in Asian antiques, with a particular emphasis on figurative sculpture and works of art from the past 2000 years.

Manjushri is clad in a voluminous dhoti neatly incised with flowerheads and elegantly falling in pleats below his feet, the hems decorated with dotted lines, and the body richly adorned with beaded jewelry inlaid with turquoises. The serene face with sinuously lidded eyes, elegantly arched brows, raised urna, and bow-shaped lips forming a benevolent smile. The hair arranged in a high chignon behind the foliate tiara.

Weight: 432.3 g
Dimensions: Height 12.9 cm

Expert’s note:

Created during a period of refinement in Tibetan art history, this gilt bronze sculpture of Manjushri bears the hallmarks of a recently identified master sculptor, Sonam Gyaltsen. Gyaltsen was patronized around 1430 by the Sakya school and the Rinpungpa dynasty centered in Shigatse.

Several master sculptors are believed to have worked in Gyaltsen’s atelier and circle, with some of the most prominent works from this group being regarded as dedications to the master himself.

It remains unclear, however, to what extent Gyaltsen participated in the creation and execution of these rare works. Generally speaking, at that time, almost every significant culture in the world had its masters who successfully ran an atelier, a circle, or a school. Today, whenever works from these masters appear on the market, scholars are engaged in interpreting to what extent and by whom exactly the piece may have been made. The most prominent example of such a scholarly discussion is the "Salvator Mundi," the famous world-record work by Leonardo da Vinci (and his atelier).

Many stylistic details of the present work compare with a One-Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara sculpture showing a dedicatory inscription naming Sonam Gyaltsen, sold at Bonhams New York, 19 March 2018, lot 3033. The physique is lithe, the face has a quiet benevolence, and the crown rests above a similar prominent fringe of curls. The shape and execution of Manjushri’s regalia are characteristic of Sonam Gyaltsen's work, consisting of five-lobed, pointed leaves inset with turquoise repeating throughout his crown and armbands. Furthermore, the treatment of the lotus base, with plump petals terminating in curlicue tips at the front and simplified flattened petals at the back, is consistent with the inscribed Avalokiteshvara. The fluid modeling of Manjushri’s dhoti, with dressy folds naturalistically draped across the base, similarly attest to a master's hand. Compare the dhoti's decorative scheme, with clover-like flowers sparsely incised over his legs, with a gilt-bronze Amitayus attributed to Sonam Gyaltsen at Bonhams, Hong Kong, 2 October 2018, lot 44 (see auction result comparison below).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 2 October 2018, lot 44
Price: HKD 2,500,000 or approx. EUR 329,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt copper alloy figure of Amitayus, attributed to Sonam Gyaltsen (a.15th century), central Tibet, circa 1430-1440
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of modeling, casting, and gilding, as well as the expression, the fringe of curls beneath the foliate crown, the incised floral decoration to the pleated dhoti, and the lotus base. Note the size (21 cm).

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