Page 44 - Christies Indian and Himalayan Art IRVING collection Sept 24 2020 NYC

THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE NEW YORK COLLECTOR

721
A BRONZE VOTIVE PLAQUE WITH
MAHARAGAVAJRA MANJUSHRI AND CONSORT
NEPAL, 17TH CENTURY
6Ω in. (16.5 cm.) high

$8,000-12,000
PROVENANCE:
The collection of Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck, New York,
by repute.
Private collection, New York, acquired directly from the
above, 1990s.
LITERATURE:
Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 24623.

Compare the present sculpture with a painting in the Jucker
Collection, illustrated by H. Kreijger in Kathmandu Valley
Painting, Boston, 1999, p. 79, cat. no. 26; the deity, with eight
arms, four faces, and holding similar attributes, with his
consort seated on his knee, is identified as Maharagavajra
Manjushri.

THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE NEW YORK COLLECTOR

722
A BRONZE GROUP OF LAKSHMI NARAYANA
NEPAL, 18TH CENTURY
7 in. (17.8 cm.) high
$6,000-8,000
721
PROVENANCE:
Private collection, New York, 1990s, by repute.
LITERATURE:
Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 24627.

723
A LARGE AND RARE BRONZE GROUP OF BUDDHA
SHAKYAMUNI BENEATH THE BODHI TREE
FLANKED BY MARA'S ARMIES
NEPAL, 19TH CENTURY
35 in. (88.9 cm.) high
$30,000-50,000
PROVENANCE:
Private collection, New York, 1990s, by repute.
LITERATURE:
Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 24632.
The present, highly unique bronze group depicts Buddha
Shakyamuni achieving enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree
as Mara’s armies advance from either side. Concerned about
losing power should Shakyamuni obtain supreme knowledge,
the celestial king Mara had, prior to this encounter, sent
a number of temptations to Shakyamuni, all of which he
withstood. As a last effort, Mara calls upon his warriors to
capture and defeat Shakyamuni; however, as they approach
him in meditation, Buddha touches the ground and calls upon
the earth to witness his enlightenment, causing the armies
to retreat.
In this depiction, the Buddha sits peacefully within the rocky
terrain, as groups of demon warriors advance, some clutching
weapons and others banging on their drums. The cascading
Bodhi Tree umbrellas the encounter with large boughs of
scrolling foliage. A five-pointed aureole crowns the Buddha’s
722
head, which rests in a pensive, downturned position.