Page 59 - Bonhams, Indian and Himalayan Art New York July 23, 2020
P. 59

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           A PAIR OF GILT COPPER ALLOY REPOUSSÉ PLAQUES
           OF KURUKULLA AND VAJRAVARAHI
           TIBET, 18TH/19TH CENTURY
           Himalayan Art Resources item nos.16827 & 16828
           8 x 6 1/2 in. (20.2 x 16.5 cm), the larger

           $10,000 - 15,000
           西藏 十八/十九世紀 銅鎏金錘揲智行佛母及金剛亥母飾板

           The artist has skilfully hammered and chased these lively images from
           plain metal sheets. Both dance upon trampled corpses, Kurukulla
           with four arms, Vajravarahi with two. Kurukulla is a manifestation
           of Tara invoked in enchantment rites by women seeking lovers. A
           form of Vajrayogini, Vajravarahi is the principal female deity of the
           Chakrasamvara Tantra. She is the consort of the great transformative
           deity, Samvara, and is also worshiped in her own right as a protector
           of the tantra’s potent secrets. Her multi-layered aureole is particularly
           elaborate, formed by an inner ring of flames, a strand of petals with
           beaded border, and a series of conch shells nestled within the outer
           layer of flames.

           Provenance
           Acquired from a Private American Collection, early 2000s

           END OF SALE

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