Page 11 - September 20th 2021, Indian and Himalayan Art Christie's NYC

Property From The India House Collection
New York (Lots 401-405)

PROPERTY FROM THE INDIA HOUSE CLUB COLLECTION, NEW YORK
402
A COPPER- AND SILVER- INLAID BRONZE FIGURE 西藏 十三/十四世紀 銅錯紅銅及銀喇嘛坐像
OF A LAMA
TIBET, 13TH-14TH CENTURY 來源:
Willard D. Straight (1880-1918年) 珍藏，入藏於1914年前。
5√ in. (14.9 cm.) high
$6,000-8,000
PROVENANCE:
Willard D. Straight (1880-1918) Collection, acquired prior to 1914.
LITERATURE:
Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 24656.
The present bronze likely depicts an important early lama from a
period when Buddhism was flourishing and expanding in Tibet. The
elaborate use of precious-metal inlays suggests it was an important
commission. The curved edges of the shirt the figure wears beneath
his robe are telling of the period of origin, as square-edged shirts
become the standard from the fourteenth century on. The quality of
this casting is especially evident in the hems of his patchwork robe and
shirt, and in eyes and lips, all of which are inlaid with strips of silver and
incised copper. The meditation cape, with its incised foliate pattern,
and the individually incised hair on the top of the head are also artfully
implemented. Compare the present lot with a similarly-dated gilt-bronze
figure of a lama sold at Christie's New York, 11 September 2018, lot 359
for $15,000.

A gilt-bronze figure of a Lama; Tibet, 13th-14th century; 5 1/8 in. (13 cm.) high;
sold, Christie’s New York, 11 September 2018, for $15,000.