Page 156 - Chinese Art Paris Auction Christie's December 2017

This superb gilt-bronze sacred image depicts the four-faced and
twelve-armed Cakrasamvara embracing his consort Vajravarahi. They
represent, respectively, compassion and wisdom and its union leads
to enlightenment and Buddhahood. His name can be interpreted as
one of ‘joined to the wheel of wisdom and bliss’. One of his distinctive
attributes, the elephant-skin and symbol of illusion is stretched
across his shoulders and held by the upper hands. His principle hands
demonstrate the vajra and ghanta, symbolizing the transcending of
duality culminating in enlightenment. The couple is trampling upon
the Hindu gods Bhairava and Kalaratri as symbol of the superiority of
Buddhism over Hinduism.
The artist cast the bronze with an almost electrifying intensity
radiating from the central face of the deity. The eyebrow is knitted
in anger; his open mouth with fangs and still his face does not show
bulging eyes and gaping jaw as typical for wrathful deities. His
emotionless facial expression is one between peace and wrath, while
refecting at the same time his impersonality of being a yidam or ‘pure
appearance’ who transcendent duality.

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