Page 54 - 2020 Nov 30 Christie's Hong Kong Important Chiense Works of Art
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         A LARGE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF                     ⾿Ⳋ   ڊ̪ˡ☹   㛶㕺㘍㕺׬✽቉চӐ
         VAJRADHARA
                                                           ϝᬝ
         TIBET, 15TH CENTURY
                                                           #FOOZ 3VTUFOCVSH      ჺ㐟ᙻ㲞ᳰ
         The figure is modelled seated in dhyanasana on a deeply cast
         double-lotus base, the hands holding a vajra and ghanta crossed in   ᫉ཉד۬ㄴ㊘ἃᛓࢦՆӽ⡕⎏ⶬलד㙁۬ഌჇ⡷ࢶవ㐫᰾Ԡה卿ݯה৅
         front of the chest. The deity is wearing a dhoti and a shawl draped   ս⡿⤤⎏㬷༏㫌↱ⶬ♑ǯᬘ㖅Ӭ㠺⡷ࢶవ㐫Ԡה᪪卿໸ჺ      Ԡ㠩㤒㞖
         over the bare torso; both garments are subtly edged with incised   ࢦӬ㬷ࢨᏛ㈊㮥۬卿ᐽ㐈ᙻ⡥⡙㚥Ẃᙱ卿    ჺ ᝲ  ᚚ卿ᐽ৅    ⽚ǯ
         floral motif. Variously adorned with lavish jewellery, some are
                                                           㞖ࠈ⥙ᑥࣽ♑న㞖ࠈ▵卿ங⻦۔דᘰԋㄴ㇬ἃទߝדǮࣥංד卿ཝἃଚ
         inlaid with hardstones. The handsome face is portrayed with
                                                           ⯟᰾Ꮢཉ࿶ǯᆨ㎜അ㇦Ꮫన㞖ࠈ㟥ࣿំᙻ⬍߿卿ջヿᜊጮ⯝੓ႛ⎏⢙भǯ
         heavy-lidded eyes, aquiline nose and a raised urna. The head is
                                                           ទཉ㞖ࠈ⥙ᑥ۬ἃݱ௛⎏㇛⻦㰍ᡟ厍㕑ჾ⡿㧩Ǯ㜩㱈ⵖ㿃ǯᬘ㖅Ӭཉ㱈
         crowned by a five-petalled tiara and with an elaborate chignon
                                                           ᝳ⏟ַ㰍ᡟ㰥჌⎏ࢦՆӽ⡕㤒㞖㠩㞖ࠈ⥙ᑥ卿⻦ᙻ⡥≖ݐࢷ⁒㱦卿㱦⻦
         fastened by a jewel-finial, with further strands of hair falling on   ⤔⽚厍    "ǯ
         either side of the shoulders.  The baseplate is sealed.
         14 Æ in. (37.5 cm.) high
         HK$1,800,000-2,600,000        US$240,000-340,000
         PROVENANCE
         Benny Rustenburg, acquired in Hong Kong in 1993
         The present figure is stylistically related to the atelier of Sonam
         Gyaltsen, a master Buddhist image-maker of the 15th century, as
         characterised by the fine modelling of the facial features. Compare a
         standing Avalokitesvara dating to circa 1430 which is inscribed with
         the Sonam Gyaltsen name, and was sold at Bonhams New York, 19
         March 2018, lot 3033.
         The heavenly embodiment of wisdom, Vajradhara, holds in each hand
         a vajra (Tib. dorje), and a ghanta (Tib. drilbu), held across the chest in
         vajrahumkara mudra.  The figure is representing primordial wisdom
         and is understood as the secret form of Buddha Shakyamuni and the
         combined essence of all buddhas.
         The present form of this important meditational deity is depicted in a
         classic Tibetan style, with elongated torso and lavish ornamentation,
         including the beaded jewellery chains, floral arm bands, and jewel finial
         on top of the chignon. A similar fifteenth-century gilt-bronze figure of
         Vajradhara cast with the same loop-form celestial scarf beside either
         side of the arms is in Newark Museum (acc. no. 70.5A).
















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