Page 38 - 2020 December 2 Bonhams Arts of Devotion bronzes and Stone carvings

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A BRASS FIGURE OF BUDDHA VAJRASANA Later, the followers of Buddhist esoteric schools represented the
TIBET, 12TH CENTURY epiphany with their most important emblem, the vajra, which they
Himalayan Art Resources item no.16903 interpreted as a symbol of the adamantine purity, indestructibility,
16.5 cm (6 1/2 in.) high and perfection of the Buddhist doctrine. That emblem is depicted at
the center of this bronze’s lotus base most distinctively, whereas it is
HKD400,000 - 600,000 normally placed horizontally resting on top of the base. The placement
is similar to a roughly contemporaneous Bon figure which has a lion in
西藏 十二世紀 金剛座佛陀銅像 the front of the lotus petals (von Schroeder, Buddhist Bronzes in Tibet,
p.1145, no.299B.
This bronze depicts Shakyamuni Buddha at the very moment of The artist’s decision has allowed more space for him to indulge in the
Enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Touching the goddess, Earth, with his
right hand, he called her to witness his imperturbability in front of the ripples of Buddha’s robe fanning out before the ankles. There is also a
assault of the demon Mara. It is with reference to this condition of marked vigor in the way the artist has cast the robe billowing around
serene beatitude that Shakyamuni’s epiphany was called Akshobhya, Buddha’s left arm, adding movement to the otherwise still and earnest
meaning “Imperturbable”. portrait.

Provenance
Ex-Else Okada Collection, Japan
Private Collection, Milan, acquired in 2009

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