Page 10 - Himalayan Art Macrh 19 2018 Bonhams

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A BRASS, COPPER, AND IRON PURBHA A COPPER INLAID IRON AND BRASS ALLOY BON PURBHA
TIBET, CIRCA 13TH CENTURY TIBET, CIRCA 13TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61575 The mounted iron tripartite blade enhanced with separately cast
9 1/4 in. (23.8 cm) long copper alloy sheets along its edges adding greater width.
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61573
15 in. (38 cm) long
$5,000 - 7,000
西藏 約十三世紀 鐵錯銅金剛橛 $5,000 - 7,000

This inspired purbha stands out for its use of different metals to 西藏 約十三世紀 苯教金剛橛
better illustrate the three stages of decay among the faces in its top
register - a leitmotif in Tibetan art, reinforcing Buddhist precepts of Inlaid deposits of iron skillfully embellish this uninhibited casting.
impermanence. A reddish copper face with a weak jaw refers to youth. The absence of a vajra-grip is a key indicator of a Bon purbha that
A central face of brass depicts a man in his prime, while the vestiges of distinguishes the present example from more common Buddhist
a third face in meteoric iron cleverly conveys the rotting corpse buried examples. Similar to a Bon purbha recently sold by Bonhams, New
in the earth. Another notable feature is the purbha’s four-pronged York, 14 March 2016, lot 5, the pommel transitions from makara head,
vajra-grip, almost reminiscent of prized thogchaks. to a knot of immutability, to a three-sided figure holding a purbha of
either brass, copper, or iron, to a double-sided kyung (mythical bird).
Provenance Further above are three faces, before a surmounting godhead. The
Private American Collection, assembled in the 1970s/80s purbha-wielding figure likely represents the Bon deity Purbha Drugse
Private New York Collection, acquired 1990s Chempa. For two other related Bon purbhas, see HAR item nos.
10131 & 57062.

Provenance
Sotheby’s, New York, 22 March 1989, lot 226
Private Collection, Los Angeles
8 | BONHAMS