Page 42 - Bonhams, Indian and Himalayan Art New York July 23, 2020

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A SILK BROCADE PANEL OF MAHAKALA The figural style of the panel’s Mahakala appears to be aligned
CHINA, CIRCA 14TH CENTURY with the Buddhist art of the Dali Kingdom (10th-13th century). His
Satin weave with a silk and gilded paper brocade. expression of “wrath without fury” (Wei Er Bu Nu), for example, is
Himalayan Art Resources item no.35892 characteristic of wrathful deities from Dali. The emphasis of strength
12 3/4 x 11 in. (32.5 x 28 cm), irregular through exaggerated muscles, such as his bulging forearms, is also
consistent with Dali sculpture and painting. See a gilt bronze sculpture
$10,000 - 15,000 of Trailokyavijaya in the collection of Yunnan Museum, China (HAR
8073); also refer to the seven forms of Mahakala within the famous
中原 約十四世紀 大黑天紋織錦 Dali Kingdom Buddhist Scroll by Zhang Shengwen at National Palace
Museum, Taipei.
This intricate woven panel depicts a rare form of Mahakala encircled
by a ring of multicolored flames. The figure’s facial features, attributes, Provenance
and accessories are meticulously outlined. Included is a staff with a Acquired from the European Art Market, early 2000s
jagged double edge and a sun-and-crescent-moon pommel resting
horizontally on his central forearms. The panel would have been part of
a larger textile hanging, likely depicting several mahakalas of differing
iconography. See a closely related silk panel, carbon dated to the
14th-15th century, published in Spink & Son Ltd., The Art of Textiles,
London, 1989, no.22.

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