Page 114 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

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A GILT-BRONZE VAJRA A VERY LARGE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE Figures of guardians, such as the present lot,
Ming Dynasty OF A GUARDIAN were semi-divine creatures on earth whose
The thunderbolt-sceptre finely cast with a Ming Dynasty function was to guard the four cardinal points
central bulbous grip separating two lotus The imposing figure finely cast standing on of the world and sacred sites as Protectors
pedestals supporting a central column a separate kidney-shaped rockwork base, of the Buddhist Law dharma. According to
surrounded by eight arched vajra points wearing a chain-mail completely covering the legends, the four guardian kings were present
emerging from the jaws of makara heads. body and extending down to the overlapping at every critical moment in the Buddha’s life,
16cm (6 2/8in) long. ruyi-decorated boots, the shoulders of both helping him with his birth, carrying him when
with high epaulettes and the belly with a large he left his father’s place, offering him food
£3,000 - 5,000 mask, a celestial scarf billowing up behind before his enlightenment and attending his
CNY24,000 - 39,000 the head and trailing down to the base, with final nirvana.
further knotted ribbons at the waist, the crisply
cast face with a lively expression, surmounted Guardian figures were usually attired as fierce
明 鎏金銅金剛杵 by an elaborate pierced crown, holding a warriors, dressed in interlocking-chain armour
mace in his right hand, the left raised to the and wearing elaborate helmets; they stand
The vajra, also known as dorje, was often chest. in a dramatic pose with flaming aureoles
employed in Tantric Buddhist practices in 63cm (24 6/8in) high. behind their heads representing the Buddhist
Tibet aimed at dispelling the evil forces from Law. Their long scarves billowing around
sacrificial enclosures. The emblem embodies their bodies show the celestial nature of their
the spiritual forces and firmness of the spirits £10,000 - 15,000 wearers.
and was often complemented by a ritual bell. CNY79,000 - 120,000
Compare with two related gilt-bronze
Compare with a very similar gilt-bronze vajra, 明 鎏金銅天王像 guardian figures, Ming dynasty, with
15th century, which was sold at Christie’s New stylistically comparable detailed outfit, in the
York, 22 March 2013, lot 1253. Provenance: a European private collection Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, illustrated by
H.Munsterberg, Chinese Buddhist Bronzes,
來源：歐洲私人收藏 Tokyo, 1967, pls.93 and 94. See also two
further related gilt-bronze figures of guardians,
Ming dynasty, illustrated in The Crucible of
Compassion and Wisdom, Taipei, 1987,
nos.120-121. A related but larger gilt-bronze
figure of a guardian, late 15th-16th century,
was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 26
November 2014, lot 3111.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
112 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.