Page 18 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art March 2016 New York

8 9
A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF A DAKINI A COPPER INLAID COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF SYAMATARA
Tibet, circa 13th century Western Tibet, 14th/15th century
In a spirited pose above a solid-cast lotus base, wearing minute Seated in lalitasana with her pendant leg resting on a seamlessly
incised beaded swags across her thighs and holding a skull cup extending lotus blossom, and on it her right hand in the
and ritual chopper; her long hair with applied orange pigment boon-granting gesture, while her upraised left holds a lotus stem.
on the reverse. 7 1/4 in. (18.41 cm) high
3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm) $8,000 - 12,000
$4,000 - 6,000
西藏西部 十四／十五世紀 綠度母銅像
西藏 約十三世紀 空行母銅像
Following the convention favored by artists in early Western Tibet, the
The early, enigmatic figure probably represents one of four principle Syamatara is cast with angular and flattened features. Her jewelry is
dakinis that accompany Chakrasamvara and Vajrayogini. For an bold with large cavities for inset stones and the crown and belt are
example, see a related Nepalese sculpture sold at Sotheby’s, New inlaid with incised copper bands. She is shown with rosettes above
York, 16 September 1999, lot 83A. Her large eyes, upturned crown the ears and eyes with narrow slits and delicately defined pupils.
ribbons, and garland of slender severed heads are consistent with
13th-century thangkas such as examples of Vajrayogini and Achala: Yet the artist has also afforded the sculpture whimsical elements,
himalayanart.org/items/35845 & himalayanart.org/items/101339. Also including the treatment of a shot scarf wrapped around the belt at her
compare with Tibetan cave murals at Dunhuang: himalayanart.org/ back, and a suspended jewel from the center of the crown turned to
search/set.cfm?setID=4162 the left on her forehead. Also notable is the Pala-inspired large, almost
architectural, flanking lotus stems with makara-like terminals. Compare
Referenced the facial type and attenuated body with a sculpture of Nairatmya sold
HAR - himalayanart.org/items/61402 at Bonhams, New York, 16 March 2015, lot 25.

Provenance Referenced
Private Estate, Washington, DC HAR - himalayanart.org/items/61409
Private Canadian Collection
Provenance
Private New York Collection, acquired 2006

16 | BONHAMS