Page 12 - Fine Asian Art, Bonhams San Francisco June 27, 2017

8012
A LARGE GILT COPPER ALLOY REPOUSSÉ FIGURE OF
USHNISHAVIJAYA
Qing dynasty, 18th century
Of tall lithe build, the three heads of the female deity supporting
elaborate diadems surrounding her high chignon above faces
ritually-adorned in pigments to highlight the eyes, wisdom eyes and
mouths forming both wrathful and benevolent expressions above
massive turquoise overlay earrings and jewels adorning her royal
raiment of flowing tassels draped over eight elegantly rendered
hands supporting separately cast implements including a visvajra,
bow, arrow, and kalasa-shaped plaque displaying the seed syllable
of Amitayus, all seated dhyanasana upon a sturdily rendered double
lotus plinth.
24 1/4in (61.6cm) high
US$25,000 - 40,000
For an in-depth discussion on the difficulty of determining the sites
of production for bronze figures cast to serve the needs of the very
international Vajrayana Buddhism as practiced in the Qing Empire of
the 18th century, see Patricia Berger, Empire of Emptiness: Buddhist
Art and Political Authority in Qing China (Honolulu: University of
Hawaii, 2003), 29-31. However, the tall, thin and smaller-chested
characteristics of the present lot, similar to the 17th century
Zanabazar prototypes she describes at length, suggests the piece
may likely have been made for the court by the imperial ateliers in
Dolonnor, Inner Mongolia.

10 | BONHAMS