Page 98 - Bonhams Himalayan, Indian Art march 2015

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A copper alloy figure of Skanda
96 | BONHAMS South India, Nayak period, 17th century
The youthful deity standing alert on a footed
base in front of an elaborate back plate,
holding lotuses in each hands, wearing
nothing but jewelry gracing his generous form
and a headdress securing his royal chignon,
the sirischakra behind.
11 in. (28 cm) high
$7,000 - 10,000

Skanda, the second son of Siva, and
the younger brother of Ganesha, is also
known as Kumara, Karttikeya, Shanmukha,
Subrahmanya. As Shanmukha, he is
worshiped throughout Southern India in
dedicated temples. In this aspect he is
typically associated grouped with his parents
in Somaskanda representations. Compare
with a more conventional example from a
Somaskanda shrine formerly in the Pal Family
Collection sold at Christie’s, New York, 20
March 2008, lot 346.

Provenance
Private California Collection, acquired in
Tokyo in 1971

64
A copper alloy figure of Buddha
Burma, circa 17th century
Seated in padmasana on a pierced openwork
base with two attendants in supplication on
either side, Buddha’s hands in meditation
supporting a covered vase.
23 12 in. (56.7 cm) high
$30,000 - 50,000

Its narrow face and attenuated body is typical
of the Burmese later Arakan style of the
17th century. Compare with a closely related
example in the British Museum (1880.4070),
published in Zwalf & Oddy, Aspect of Tibetan
Metallurgy, London, 1981, no. 14.

Although these images are usually
recognized as Amitayus, Gutman argues
that in the absence of other indications of
Mahayana Buddhism at Arakan, we are
lead to conclude that the form was adopted
in the kingdom whilst the figure was still
worshipped as Buddha (Burma’s Lost
Kingdoms: Splendours of Arakan, Bangkok,
2001, pp. 149-150). Compare with another
figure in Gutman and Stadtner (ed.), The Art
of Burma, 1999, p. 63, fig. 11. For an earlier
example of the type, see Sotheby’s, New
York, 5 December 1992, lot 138.

Provenance
Private German Collection, before 1980
Acquired in London 2002
Private European Collection