Page 120 - Sotheby's Arts of Asia Paris, June 16, 2022

123

PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE
COLLECTION
A GILT-COPPER FIGURE OF A BULL
122
TIBET, CA. 15TH CENTURY
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE shrine, each holding a ritual implement in his left hand and
COLLECTION raising the index finger of his right hand to the mouth in a standing on all fours, the neck and bridge of the nose with
incised lines, the mouth ajar, with horns curving around his
A COPPER BHAIRAVA SHRINE BASE gesture implying silence (maunavrata). In an identical scene small ears, the short tail resting on his left haunch
depicted on a similar fourteenth century or earlier Nepalese
NEPAL, CA. 14TH CENTURY copper shrine, formerly in the Pan-Asian Collection, Dr. Pal 13.3 cm, 5¼ in.
depicting a charnel ground with a cremation scene in the has suggested that these deities probably represent the PROVENANCE
foreground and a barking dog in the centre representing five forms of Shiva that are equated with the five elements
the mount (vahana) of Bhairava, the fierce emanation of (panchabhuta), see Pal, Nepal: Where the Gods are Young, Sotheby’s, London, 20th September 1985, lot 15.
Shiva, flanked by two carrion birds and a coiled snake, with New York, 1975, cat. 64. The Pan-Asian example has four Although animals are frequently found in iconographic
a stupa to the left and linga to the right. Five deities are posts rising at the centre that Pal suggests would have compositions throughout the Himalayan area, the exact
seated around the edges of the shrine, each holding a ritual supported a roof over the shrine. In this example the posts purpose of apparently independent animal figures is not
implement in his left hand and raising the index finger of are incorporated into the the top of the heads of the deities known. A bull figure of related characteristics, is published
his right hand to the mouth in a gesture implying silence at each corner. Pal also notes that the inclusion of both the in Kramrisch, Nepal, p. 80, no. 44. Compare also two other
(maunavrata) stupa and the linga indicates that the shrine is venerated by related figures sold in our London rooms, 25th November
13 x 7.2 x 5 cm, 5⅛ by 2⅞ by 2 in. Buddhists as well as Shaivas. 1980, lot 42 and 30th November 1983, lot 241.
The scene depicts a charnel ground with a cremation Base d’autel de Bhairava en cuivre, Népal, vers XIVe siècle Statuette de taureau en cuivre doré, Tibet, vers XVe siècle
scene in the foreground and a barking dog in the centre.
The dog represents the mount (vahana) of Bhairava, the ‡ 7 000-9 000€ ‡ 2 000-3 000€
fierce emanation of Shiva, and is often substituted for
Bhairava himself. The dog is flanked by two carrion birds 尼泊爾 約十四世紀 銅陪臚龕座 西藏 約十五世紀 鎏金銅牛像
and a coiled snake, with a stupa to the left and linga to
the right. Five deities are seated around the edges of the 來源 :
倫敦蘇富比，1985年9月20日，編號15 123

124
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE
COLLECTION
A CARVED WOOD SUTRA COVER
TIBET, 13TH CENTURY
depicting the Four-armed Prajnaparamita at the centre, the
goddess of wisdom flanked and surrounded by Buddhas and
Tathagatas, traces of gilding and red laquer
68.7 x 21.2 x 2.5 cm, 27 by 8⅜ by 1 in.
Couverture de sutra en bois sculpté, Tibet, XIIIe siècle
‡ 8 000-12 000€
西藏 十三世紀 木雕佛像紋經板

124

119