10th Apr, 2025 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
48
A LARGE GILT-LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF THE ENTHRONED VAJRABHAIRAVA WITH VAJRAVETALI, CHINA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY
€15,000
€30,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
Yamantaka is standing in pratyalidhasana on various divinities and animals atop a rectangular throne centered by a recessed niche and flanked by Buddhist lions, backed by a flaming mandorla inset at the back of the base. He embraces his consort with his primary hands, the right hand holding a kapala. His other thirty-two hands radiate around his body holding various attributes. He wears a beaded apron, mala of severed heads, and jewelry. His bull head displays a ferocious facial expression, six other heads surround the central one and are topped with three more heads framed by his flaming hair.
Provenance: From an old private collection in Burgundy, France.
Condition: Overall very good condition with expected old wear, minor losses and chips, occasional light scratches, rubbing and flaking to lacquer, some old repairs with remnants of adhesive and minor touchups. The lotus base sealed and possibly still filled with sacred contents. Overall presenting exceptionally well.
Weight: 3,074 g
Dimensions: Height 47 cm
Expert’s note: The figure is exceptionally well preserved, with nearly all delicate elements—such as attributes, arms, decorative details, and small figures—intact. The lacquer remains in remarkable condition, showcasing a magnificent ancient patina and an elegant, lustrous sheen. Notably, the figure, base, flaming mandorla, and stand have remained together, undisturbed, for over 350 years.
The present work is closely related to a corpus of Buddhist gilt-lacquer sculpture commissioned during the reigns of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors at the Buddhist site of Rehol, near Chengde in Hebei province. Early in Kangxi's rule, he recognized the importance of building strong relations with the various Mongol tribes in the expansive steppes to the north and west of the capital. To foster close ties with Mongol chieftains, he regularly invited them on hunting excursions. Rehol initially served as a temporary hunting site, strategically located north of Beijing at Chengde, known for its picturesque beauty and featuring a prominent phallus-shaped rock called Qingchui, reminiscent of Mount Sumeru, the Buddhist axis mundi.
As the Mongols were avid followers of Tibetan Buddhism, Kangxi initiated the construction of Tibetan-style Buddhist temples arranged around the axis of Qingchui. Under the rule of his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, the site underwent significant expansion, with its layout mirroring the Buddhist cosmology of a mandala. Qianlong even commissioned the construction of replicas of the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Putuo Zongcheng) and the ancient Samye Monastery in Tibet (Puning Temple).
The central focus of worship in many of these temples was large gilt-lacquered sculptures, such as the 22-meter-high figure of Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara at the Puning Temple. Similar to the present work are three massive Buddha figures in the Zongyin Hall of the Pule Si, constructed in 1766, illustrated by Du Jiang in Buddhist Art from Rehol: Tibetan Buddhist images and ritual objects from the Qing dynasty Summer Palace at Chengde, Taipei, 1999, p. 29. A distinctive feature of the Zongyin Hall Buddhas is the ornate flaming aureole behind each one, with separately carved figures of Garuda at the top, similar to the current lot. See also a closely related gilt-bronze figure of Yamantaka and Vajravetali illustrated ibid., p. 122, pl. 46.
The rich and deeply colored gilding, almost in imitation of patinated gilt-bronze, atop thick red or black lacquer, is a defining characteristic of many of these lacquered sculptures. Although no records exist as to why lacquer was chosen for the majority of the sculptural ensemble, it is likely the use of the more plentiful and pliable material allowed for a more extensive building project. Certainly, the facade of the Putuo Zongcheng indicates that Qianlong’s architects were willing to look for creative shortcuts.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2024, lot 1153
Estimate: USD 80,000 or approx. EUR 78,000 converted at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt-lacquered wood figure of Medicine Buddha enthroned, 17th-18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related lacquering and modeling with similar throne. Note the size (55 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2018, lot 1041
Price: USD 684,500 or approx. EUR 833,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt lacquered wood figure of Buddha enthroned, 17th-18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related lacquering and modeling with similar throne. Note the size (76.8 cm).
Yamantaka is standing in pratyalidhasana on various divinities and animals atop a rectangular throne centered by a recessed niche and flanked by Buddhist lions, backed by a flaming mandorla inset at the back of the base. He embraces his consort with his primary hands, the right hand holding a kapala. His other thirty-two hands radiate around his body holding various attributes. He wears a beaded apron, mala of severed heads, and jewelry. His bull head displays a ferocious facial expression, six other heads surround the central one and are topped with three more heads framed by his flaming hair.
Provenance: From an old private collection in Burgundy, France.
Condition: Overall very good condition with expected old wear, minor losses and chips, occasional light scratches, rubbing and flaking to lacquer, some old repairs with remnants of adhesive and minor touchups. The lotus base sealed and possibly still filled with sacred contents. Overall presenting exceptionally well.
Weight: 3,074 g
Dimensions: Height 47 cm
Expert’s note: The figure is exceptionally well preserved, with nearly all delicate elements—such as attributes, arms, decorative details, and small figures—intact. The lacquer remains in remarkable condition, showcasing a magnificent ancient patina and an elegant, lustrous sheen. Notably, the figure, base, flaming mandorla, and stand have remained together, undisturbed, for over 350 years.
The present work is closely related to a corpus of Buddhist gilt-lacquer sculpture commissioned during the reigns of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors at the Buddhist site of Rehol, near Chengde in Hebei province. Early in Kangxi's rule, he recognized the importance of building strong relations with the various Mongol tribes in the expansive steppes to the north and west of the capital. To foster close ties with Mongol chieftains, he regularly invited them on hunting excursions. Rehol initially served as a temporary hunting site, strategically located north of Beijing at Chengde, known for its picturesque beauty and featuring a prominent phallus-shaped rock called Qingchui, reminiscent of Mount Sumeru, the Buddhist axis mundi.
As the Mongols were avid followers of Tibetan Buddhism, Kangxi initiated the construction of Tibetan-style Buddhist temples arranged around the axis of Qingchui. Under the rule of his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, the site underwent significant expansion, with its layout mirroring the Buddhist cosmology of a mandala. Qianlong even commissioned the construction of replicas of the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Putuo Zongcheng) and the ancient Samye Monastery in Tibet (Puning Temple).
The central focus of worship in many of these temples was large gilt-lacquered sculptures, such as the 22-meter-high figure of Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara at the Puning Temple. Similar to the present work are three massive Buddha figures in the Zongyin Hall of the Pule Si, constructed in 1766, illustrated by Du Jiang in Buddhist Art from Rehol: Tibetan Buddhist images and ritual objects from the Qing dynasty Summer Palace at Chengde, Taipei, 1999, p. 29. A distinctive feature of the Zongyin Hall Buddhas is the ornate flaming aureole behind each one, with separately carved figures of Garuda at the top, similar to the current lot. See also a closely related gilt-bronze figure of Yamantaka and Vajravetali illustrated ibid., p. 122, pl. 46.
The rich and deeply colored gilding, almost in imitation of patinated gilt-bronze, atop thick red or black lacquer, is a defining characteristic of many of these lacquered sculptures. Although no records exist as to why lacquer was chosen for the majority of the sculptural ensemble, it is likely the use of the more plentiful and pliable material allowed for a more extensive building project. Certainly, the facade of the Putuo Zongcheng indicates that Qianlong’s architects were willing to look for creative shortcuts.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2024, lot 1153
Estimate: USD 80,000 or approx. EUR 78,000 converted at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt-lacquered wood figure of Medicine Buddha enthroned, 17th-18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related lacquering and modeling with similar throne. Note the size (55 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2018, lot 1041
Price: USD 684,500 or approx. EUR 833,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt lacquered wood figure of Buddha enthroned, 17th-18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related lacquering and modeling with similar throne. Note the size (76.8 cm).
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Auction: TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism, 10th Apr, 2025
Galerie Zacke is privileged to present a remarkable two-day live auction event, featuring 684 works of art from China, Southeast Asia, India, and beyond.
The highlight is our flagship live auction on Day 1, showcasing lots 1-269, Among the many standout pieces are a ge-type octagonal bowl from the Southern Song dynasty, part of the Jules Speelman collection (lot 137), a rare 1st-2nd century gold figure of a mother goddess from the Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum collection (lot 176), as well as a group of four parcel-gilt bronze Bodhisattvas from the Bao-Xiang Lo Palace and Temple, with Qianlong marks and of the period (lot 52).
Day 2 continues with our general auction (lots 270-684), offering seasoned collectors and new bidders alike an opportunity to enhance their collections. Learn more.
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