Page 136 - Himalayan Art Macrh 19 2018 Bonhams

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AN INSET TURQUOISE SILVER A PAIR OF GOLD AND GEM INSET GAUS
MOONEATER (CHEPPU) NEPAL, 20TH CENTURY
TIBET, 19TH CENTURY Both inset with various rubies, emeralds,
With inset ruby and coral. sapphires, seed pearls, glass, turquoise, coral,
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61574 lapis, and other semi-precious stones.
4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm) irregular Kirtimukha: 2 3/8 x 2 1/8 in. (6 x 5.3 cm);
irregular;
Padmasambhava: 2 5/8 x 1 7/8 in. (6.5 x 4.6
$12,000 - 16,000
cm), irregular
西藏 十九世紀 銀質鑲嵌松綠石胸飾
$5,000 - 8,000
These brooches, known as ‘mooneaters’
(cheppu), were worn by high Tibetan 尼泊爾 二十世紀 金鑲嵌嘎烏盒一對
dignitaries until the late 1940s, and are among
the most sought-after pieces of Tibetan The first of these talismanic pendants features
jewelry. It is comprised of a kirtimukha (‘face a kirtimukha on the lid with an inspired array
of glory’) surmounting a disc (moon) with of lapis lazuli locks and gold filigree facial
concentric bands of turquoise. Backed by hair. He is sanctified by Om Mani Padme Om
silver, and using stones of a deeper green hue, mantra in gold wire on the lid’s underside.
it is simpler and likely predates more elaborate Within the gau, Tara sits nestled before a
examples of gold and sky-blue turquoise that radiant gold filigree ground emulating spiraling
gave rise to sumptuary laws imposed in the vines flowering into small gemstones, and an
1920s by the 13th Dalai Lama Trinle Gyatso, aureole of teardrop turquoise. She is sanctified
banning an expense of than 25,000 rupees on by the gold wire Kalachakra monograph on
any one item of jewelry. the amulet’s exterior underside. In a similar
arrangement, the second pendant features
Provenance the guru Padmasambhava on its lid and
Serkhung Royal Family Amitayus in its main component. Related gaus
Private Long Island Collection, acquired from the same private collection were sold at
directly from the above, 1970s Bonhams, New York, March 2017, lots 3001-
New York Private Collection, c.2010 3. Also see Huntington & Bangdel, The Circle
Private New York Collection of Bliss, Columbus, 2003, p.207, no.54A.
3058
Provenance
Grace Collection, US since mid-late 1990s

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