Page 10 - Bonhams Himalayan, Indian Art march 2015

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A gilt copper alloy bust of Bhairava
Nepal or Tibet, circa 14th century
Lips slightly parted baring teeth, wearing abundant jewelry recessed for inlay and a garland of
freshly severed heads with expressive faces strung together by their hair.
11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm) high
$25,000 - 35,000
This superbly cast sculpture exhibits the hallmarks of Newari master craftsmanship in the 14th
century. The individual facial expressions on the severed heads, elaborate beaded jewelry, and
the discrete chain-links emerging from underneath the scarf add to a level of refinement rarely
found in large-scale Tibetan sculpture.
The necklace’s arrangement compares to jewelry elements seen on bronzes of the Imperial
Yuan workshops in the early 14th century. See Adams, ‘Imperial Yuan Gilt Metal Buddhist
Sculptures: Stepping Stones to the early Ming’ in Orientations, November/December 2014,
Vol. 45, pp. 92-100 & no. 8. Also compare with the necklace and girdle of a figure of Manjushri
previously sold at Bonhams, New York, 17 September 2014, lot 1.
An exact identification of the deity is difficult to determine due to the loss of the lower half of the
body. The position of the hands, with right hand placed on top, depicts a mudra found among
Bhairavas. The three bulging eyes, flaming brows, and crown type are also common elements on
gilt copper masks and wood panels typically identified as Bhairava. However, the combination of
the mudra with this figure’s more benign face has not yet been found elsewhere.
Referenced
HAR – himalayanart.org/image.cfm/41247.html
Provenance
Sotheby’s, New York, 20 March 1997, lot 115
Private UK Collection

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