Page 26 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art March 2016 New York

15
A SILVER INLAID COPPER ALLOY
FIGURE OF VAJRAPANI
Kashmir, circa 11th century
Holding a vajra in his right hand, his left resting
on his hip while a long garland undulates around
the crooks of his arms, he stands on a lotus plinth
with lions and dancing yaksha, encompassed by a
flaming mandorla which arches slightly to the left.
7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm) high
$80,000 - 100,000

克什米爾地區 約十一世紀 銅錯銀金剛手菩薩像

Vajrapani, who holds his attribute, the thunderbolt,
is often paired with Avalokiteshvara as attendants
to Shakyamuni, where he represents wisdom and
Avalokiteshvara, compassion. This context might
explain the leftward arch of his mandorla to balance
an overall triad.

Kashmiri figures of Vajrapani are rare compared
to more common bronzes of Avalokiteshvara.
Compare the composition with a closely related
six-armed Lokesvara in Pal, The Bronzes of
Kashmir, New York, 1975, no. 52. Both pieces have
broad necklaces, defined kneecaps, double-striped
dhotis, and a rectangular waisted base. Another
very closely related two-armed Padmapani, without
the base, sold Sotheby’s, New York, 2 June 1992,
lot 90. Also compare similar lions and yaksha in the
base with that of a seated Prajnaparamita in the
British Museum (acc. #1966.6-16.2; von Schroeder,
Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1981, p. 132,
no. 23A), and another in Zangchuan fojiao
zaoxiang-Gugong bowuyuan cang wenwu zhenpin
quanji, Hong Kong, 2008, p. 108, no. 103.

Referenced
HAR - himalayanart.org/items/61438

Provenance
Private Collection, USA
Acquired in London, c. 1988

24 | BONHAMS