Page 27 - Chinese Art Bonhams San Francisco December 18, 2017

833
TWO GILT COPPER ALLOY REPOUSSÉ
PLAQUES
Tibet, circa 16th century
Each of tall rectangular section depicting a
column of three Buddhist figures sitting on
lotus plinths, encircled by a detailed lotus vine
scroll border, the background highlighted in red
pigment, now displayed in massive shadow
boxes.
23in (58.5cm) height of plaques
32in (81.3cm) height of shadow boxes

$6,000 - 8,000

The plaques would have been iconographic
elements of a larger shrine, flanking a central
deity. The distinct design of enclosing figures
in vine roundels is probably inspired by Pala
period stone sculptures, such as the schist
panel in the Ford Collection, see Pal, Desire
and Devotion, Baltimore, 2001, pp.p104-5,
no.p42.

Provenance
Private American Collection, since June 1997

833

834
A GROUP OF THREE GILT COPPER ALLOY AND SILVER
RITUAL VESSELS
Tibet, 19th century
Comprising a ewer, stem cup, and offering bowl. (3)
Himalayan Art Resources item no.2358
9 1/2 in (24.1 cm) diameter of bowl
12 1/4 in (31.2 cm) height of ewer
4 1/8 in (10.5 cm) height of cup

$6,000 - 8,000
The offering bowl has an inscribed underside in English:
E de R o/s/ No 13, 3 pieces; Libation set used in the service of the
Eucharist. Altar piece from the Teng-gye-ling Monastery.

Tengye Ling was a Nyingma temple dedicated to Tseumar, and
was one of the four institutions whose abbots could be selected
to be Regent of Tibet. It was destroyed in 1914 following a difficult
relationship between the monks, the Rinpoche, and Chinese forces
that had entered Lhasa in 1910. For further discussion see Bell, 834
The Religion of Tibet, Oxford, 1931, p.164. Thus the rare colonial
inscription serves to cap the group’s date of production prior to the
temple’s destruction.

Provenance
Private European Collection, acquired 1960s, by repute
Thence by descent

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