Sold for €19,500
including Buyer's Premium
Nepal, 9th-11th century. Standing in tribhanga on a circular lotus base, his right hand lowered in varada mudra and the left holding a lotus stem coming to full bloom at the shoulder, wearing a long flowing dhoti secured with a billowing sash, sacred thread, and foliate tiara centered by a small image of the Amitabha Buddha, his serene face with almond-shaped eyes and full lips, with a smooth deep brown patina overall and traces of gilding.
Provenance: From a Swiss private collection, acquired in Nepal from a Tibetan family.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, minor casting flaws, small losses, minuscule nicks, light scratches, dents. Fine, naturally grown patina.
Weight: 452.1 g
Dimensions: Height 17.4 cm
The present lot is stylistically related to the copper alloy and bronze figures of the Licchavi period dating from the 9th century. Well cast, the figure displays the elegance of post-Gupta sculpture, the dhoti finely incised with textile patterns of the period. The rounded facial features still show a close relationship to the Sarnath style. The flaming halo is most effectively executed and the foliate crown displays a remarkable feature as it bears an image of a standing Amitabha, the spiritual father of Avalokiteshvara. As is typical for the period, the original fire gilding is relatively thin and now mostly worn off, yet the fluidity of form and the warm copper tone are thus even more enhanced.
Literature comparison: This bronze favorably compares with the famous eighth-century figure of Vajrapani from the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection. The dhoti is similarly secured with a diagonally bound billowing sash and finely incised with linear bands, see P. Pal, Art of Nepal, 1985, fig. S6, p. 90. Compare also with a figure of Avalokiteshvara with a similarly integrated flaming halo, in P. Pal, The Arts of Nepal, 1974, fig. 190, and a further figure bearing a seated figure in the crown, fig. 295.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2008, lot 503
Price: USD 313,000 or approx. EUR 425,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An important gilt copper figure of Avalokiteshvara, Nepal, Licchavi period, 8th/9th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose and dress, the related mandorla and copper patina with traces of gilding. Note that the figure is considerably larger (29.2 cm) and likely earlier than the present lot.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2008, lot 600
Price: USD 241,000 or approx. EUR 327,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt copper figure of Padmapani, Nepal, 10th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose, dress, lotus base, and copper patina with traces of gilding. Note that the figure is considerably larger (34.8 cm) and possibly earlier than the present lot
Nepal, 9th-11th century. Standing in tribhanga on a circular lotus base, his right hand lowered in varada mudra and the left holding a lotus stem coming to full bloom at the shoulder, wearing a long flowing dhoti secured with a billowing sash, sacred thread, and foliate tiara centered by a small image of the Amitabha Buddha, his serene face with almond-shaped eyes and full lips, with a smooth deep brown patina overall and traces of gilding.
Provenance: From a Swiss private collection, acquired in Nepal from a Tibetan family.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, minor casting flaws, small losses, minuscule nicks, light scratches, dents. Fine, naturally grown patina.
Weight: 452.1 g
Dimensions: Height 17.4 cm
The present lot is stylistically related to the copper alloy and bronze figures of the Licchavi period dating from the 9th century. Well cast, the figure displays the elegance of post-Gupta sculpture, the dhoti finely incised with textile patterns of the period. The rounded facial features still show a close relationship to the Sarnath style. The flaming halo is most effectively executed and the foliate crown displays a remarkable feature as it bears an image of a standing Amitabha, the spiritual father of Avalokiteshvara. As is typical for the period, the original fire gilding is relatively thin and now mostly worn off, yet the fluidity of form and the warm copper tone are thus even more enhanced.
Literature comparison: This bronze favorably compares with the famous eighth-century figure of Vajrapani from the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection. The dhoti is similarly secured with a diagonally bound billowing sash and finely incised with linear bands, see P. Pal, Art of Nepal, 1985, fig. S6, p. 90. Compare also with a figure of Avalokiteshvara with a similarly integrated flaming halo, in P. Pal, The Arts of Nepal, 1974, fig. 190, and a further figure bearing a seated figure in the crown, fig. 295.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2008, lot 503
Price: USD 313,000 or approx. EUR 425,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An important gilt copper figure of Avalokiteshvara, Nepal, Licchavi period, 8th/9th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose and dress, the related mandorla and copper patina with traces of gilding. Note that the figure is considerably larger (29.2 cm) and likely earlier than the present lot.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2008, lot 600
Price: USD 241,000 or approx. EUR 327,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt copper figure of Padmapani, Nepal, 10th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose, dress, lotus base, and copper patina with traces of gilding. Note that the figure is considerably larger (34.8 cm) and possibly earlier than the present lot
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