Page 28 - 2020 December 2 Bonhams Arts of Devotion bronzes and Stone carvings

1012
A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF MAHAMAYA
TIBET, 15TH/16TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61745
23 cm (9 in.) high

HKD600,000 - 800,000

西藏 十五/十六世紀 銅鎏金大幻金剛像

This gilded sculpture presents the very rare subject of Mahamaya: a four-armed
and four-faced deity originating from the Sanskrit Mahamaya Tantra. He is shown
dancing while in yab yum with his consort, Buddha Dakini, who also has four
faces and four arms and holds the same attributes as her spouse. In contrast to
their delicate regalia and graceful, dancing pose, both male and female deities are
modeled with robust limbs, conveying a sense of sure-footed power. Mahamaya
also wears a long garland of severed heads, each vividly rendered, symbolizing all
the negative attitudes that have been exorcised. The Ngog lineage of the Marpa
Kagyu Tradition considers Mahamaya a special deity for the lineage.

The base’s flame-tipped lotus petals draw inspiration from the Early Ming imperial
style, known in Tibet from diplomatic gifts sent by the Yongle (1402-24) and
Xuande (1425-35) courts, and mimicked by Tibetan sculptures shortly after.
Compare the lotus base with a gilt bronze Vajradhara attributed to the late 15th/
early 16th century in Rhie & Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion, New York, 1991,
p.357, no.147.

See a stylistically related gilt bronze of Mahamaya in the Dayton Art Institute
(1980.12). The aprons around each Buddha Dakini’s waist closely resemble the
other, with beaded short loops and long tassels embellished with inset stones.
Mahamaya’s skull crown and large circular earrings are also treated in similar
manner.

Provenance
Benny Rustenburg, Hong Kong, 9 November 2007
Private European Collection

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