Page 128 - Fine Chinese, Japanese and Buddhist Art September 28, 2018 Galerie Zacke

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AN 18 CENTURY BRONZE VAJRA
TH
WITH MAKARA HEADS
Cast bronze, fine chiseling work
Tibetan-Chinese, 18 century
th
This fine bronze Vajra has a spherical
center with adjoining lotus petals.
On each side are four figural prongs
made in the shape of makara beasts.
From the mouths of the makara
come tongues which come together
in a point. A fifth prong is running
inside. The lotus motif is repeated at
the underside of the mythical beings.

Shape: Figural thunderbolt shape
Dimensions: 10 cm (length) 3,8 cm
(width)
Weight: 83 grams
Condition: Very good condition with
age-related signs of wear
Provenance: Austrian private
collection
125
A METAL-LINED AND TURQOISE INSET 18ᶾ䲨漵椾Ḽ懟慹∃㜝
th
RITUAL KAPALA SKULL CAP, 19 曺戭揬炻䱦ⶍ晽搧
CENTURY 大啷炻18ᶾ䲨
Bone, metal and turquoise ⑩䚠列⤥
Tibet, 19 century ⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ㓞啷
th
The ritual skull is framed by a metal rim EstimateġEUR 300,-
and bears metal lining at the interior. At 126 Starting price EUR 150,- 128
TH
TH
the inside center is an inset turquoise AN 18 CENTURY BRONZE RITUAL GHANTA A BRONZE STUPA, TIBET, 18 – 19
TH
stone. Believed to house mana, turquoise BELL WITH VAIROCANA CENTURY
is highly prized in Tibet. The semiprecious Cast bronze, fine chiseling work Neatly incised cast bronze with good patina
stone is often used to enhance Tibetan Tibetan-Chinese, 18 century Tibet, 18 – 19 century
th
th
th
Buddhist images and rituals. As seen at the
center of this kapala, the spider-web matrix The handle of this 18 century Ghanta bell is The bronze stupa elegantly modelled rising
th
formed by inclusions in Tibetan turquoise is cast with the head of Vairocana supporting a from a stepped square plinth to a tiered
unequaled by turquoise from any other part half, five-pronged vajra-shaped terminal. The base supporting the domed body, set on
of the world. shoulder of the bell is cast with lanca characters the front with a framed and incised niche,
within lappets, below is an intricate pattern with surmounted by a conical parasol flanked by
Shape: Skull cap kirtimukha, garland and vajra motif. foliate scrolls below a finial.
Dimensions: 18,5 cm (length) 14,5 cm
(width) 7,5 cm (height) Inside where the tongue of the bell is suspended Shape: Stupa
Weight: 372 grams we find a fine stylized double vajra symbol. Weight: 88 grams
Condition: Very good condition with Dimensions: 7,5 cm height
age-related signs of wear and small nicks. Shape: Bell shape Condition: Good condition with wear, traces
Impressive patina Dimensions: 14,5 cm (height) 7,2 cm (bottom of use and some minor dents, unsealed
Provenance: Austrian private collection diameter) Provenance: Property from a Dutch private
Weight: 212 grams collection acquired pre-1990
Literature comparison: Himalayan Art Resources Condition: Very good condition with age-related
online archive shows a near identical turquoise signs of wear and small nicks Literature comparison: Compare with a
inset Kapala under item no. 41066. Provenance: Austrian private collection related gilt-bronze stupa raised on a square
lion throne, 18th century, in the Museum
Auction result comparison: Bonham’s, INDIAN, Auction result comparison: Sotheby’s, Rietberg Zurich, illustrated by H.Uhlig in
HIMALAYAN & SOUTHEAST ASIAN ART IMPORTANT CHINESE ART, 09 NOVEMBER 2016, On the Path to Enlightenment: The Berti
17 Sep 2014, NEW YORK, lot 75 (for a near LONDON, lot 268 (for a near identical, larger Aschmann Foundation of Tibetan Art at
identical, silver lined, Kapala) Ghanta bell) the Museum Rietberg Zurich, Zurich, 1995,
Catalogue nr. 165.
19ᶾ䲨慹Ⱄ怲㟮ℏ⳴䵈㜦䞛▶⶜㉱䠿 18ᶾ䲨ἃ朊Ḽ懟慹∃懜
柕味橐炻慹Ⱄ怲㟮炻ℏ⳴䵈㜦䞛 曺戭揬炻䱦ⶍ晽搧 18军19ᶾ䲨啷⁛ἃ⟼
大啷炻19ᶾ䲨 大啷 䱦ⶍ晽揬炻⊭㻧⬴┬
⑩䚠㤝⤥ ⑩䚠列⤥ 大啷炻18军19ᶾ䲨
⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ㓞啷 ⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ㓞啷 ⑩䚠列⤥
EstimateġEUR 300,- EstimateġEUR 300,- EstimateġEUR 200,-
Starting price EUR 150,- Starting price EUR 150,- Starting price EUR 100,-

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