Page 9 - 2021 March 16th Indian, Himalayan and Tibetan Art, Bonhams NYC New York

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A POLYCHROMED CLAY FIGURE OF This charismatic portrait is naturalistically modelled and finely painted
ZHABDRUNG NGAWANG NAMGYAL with gold decorating the cushion, robe, and hat with auspicious
BHUTAN, CIRCA 18TH CENTURY symbols. Recognized by his distinctive long beard and the large,
Himalayan Art Resources item no.16917 fan-shaped hat worn by the Drugpa Kagyu order, this figure
8 in. (20.3 cm) high commemorates Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651), a spiritual
and political leader who established the Drugpa Kagyu in Bhutan
$20,000 - 30,000 in 1616 and unified the country in 1634. His identifying features
are shared by a thangka in the Tango Buddhist Institute, Bhutan
不丹 約十八世紀 彩繪泥塑夏仲阿旺朗傑像 (Bartholomew & Johnston (eds.), The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts
of Bhutan, Chicago, 2008, pp.338-9, no.85), another polychromed
wood figure with similar high cheekbones (ibid., pp.336-7, no.84), and
a later thangka in the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago (HAR
54387). Also see Christie’s, New York, 20 March 2012, lot 139, and
HAR 33822.

Provenance
Private Collection, California, acquired mid-1980s

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