Page 38 - 2020 September 23 Himalyan and Southeast Asian Works of Art Bonhams

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A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF BUDDHA A very closely related example attributed to a Nepalese school
NEPAL, 14TH CENTURY working in Tibet is published in von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculpture in
Himalayan Art Resources item no.16814 Tibet, Vol. II, Hong Kong, 2001, pp.962-3, no.231C. Its multi-tiered
5 1/8 in. (13 cm) high lotus base with tapered foot and double upper rims is almost identical
with the present bronze. So are the well-articulated fingers and toes,
$30,000 - 50,000 the tightly-fitted robes, and exceptionally broad shoulders.

Provenance
尼泊爾 十四世紀 銅鎏金佛陀像 Swiss Private Collection since 2007

This finely-detailed gilt bronze bears the hallmarks of Nepalese
craftsmanship in the figure’s robust frame and broad features, his
rounded ushnisha and lotus bud finial, and the rice grain-patterned
hems of his robe. These hems have prominent borders consisting of
large, raised beads, drawing attention to them. In a very rare feature,
Shakyamuni has been clearly granted a fine, wavy incised mustache.

36 | BONHAMS