Page 48 - 2020 December 2 Bonhams Arts of Devotion bronzes and Stone carvings

1022
A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF A SNOW LION
TIBET, 15TH/16TH CENTURY
With a two character Tibetan inscription below the neck myi ma.
Himalayan Art Resources item no.16902
34.5 x 38 cm (13 3/8 x 15 in.)

HKD500,000 - 700,000

西藏 十五/十六世紀 銅鎏金雪獅像

This heavily cast snow lion would have been part of a monumental torana: an
ornate throne-back that would have surrounded a buddha or bodhisattva figure.
The throne-back would have been composed of six elements, stood one on top
of the other, and mirrored on either side, forming an oval frame for the central
figure. The six elements on this style of throne-back, from the bottom-to-top,
consist of pairs of elephants, snow lions, horses (often with a rider), makaras (water
creatures), nagas (creatures with a human torso and the lower body of a snake),
and, at the apex, a single garuda bird. In this case, all of the components including
the central figure would have been similarly cast and gilded.

A small number of snow lions from toranas, of varying quality, have made an
appearance at auction, while a similar, but ungilt, snow lion is held by the Rubin
Museum of Art (HAR 65152). Most of these examples have all been dated to
around the 17th century or later because it is during the 17th century that the
six-element style of throne becomes a common depiction in Tibetan thangkas.
However, as evidenced in cave paintings at Ajanta and Ellora, this style of throne
was popular in Pala India and therefore likely introduced to the Himalayan region
during the Gupta period. The snow lion fragment is also comparable to a similarly
sized 15th-century copper alloy Garuda fragment sold at Bonhams, New York,
14 March 2016, lot 37. Both fragments share a roundness in the modeling of the
figures, as well as a similar articulation of hair and fur.

The fine detailing of the snow lion’s mane and tail, as well as the expressive quality
of its face, point to it being quite an exceptional example of Tibetan craftsmanship.
A lioness, possibly from the same altar or monastic complex, was sold at Boniche
et Giquello, Paris, 10 April 2009, lot 187. Also, compare another in a private
collection with a similarly elaborate tail (HAR 20817).

Provenance
Private collection, Milan, acquired in 1998

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