Page 93 - Sotheby's October 3 2017 Tantra Buddhost Art

The dharmapala and yidam Mahakala manifests in dozens of
forms. The current manifestion of Chaturbhuja Mahakala, a
protector of the Chakrasamvara Tantra, is depicted with the
primary hands holding a kartrika and kapala filled with amrita;
the secondary hands holding a flaming khadga and khatvanga.

This diminutive figure of Chaturbhuja Mahakala is exceptional
in its fine silver casting and exacting detail. The four-armed
wrathful deity retains traces of cold gold and polychromy to
the face and head, accentuating his flaming hair, eyebrows
and beard; three bloodshot eyes; gaping mouth and fearsome
fangs. The wild hair is closely cropped and layered, rather
than the upward-flowing fiery locks typically associated with
Mahakala. Terrifying cobras incised with crosshatching,
heads cocked and mouths agape, encircle Mahakala’s
earrings, torso, sword hilt, wrists and ankles. The wonderfully
articulated feet and toes twist and writhe with kinetic energy.

Mahakala wears the six bone ornaments and an animal
skin wrapped around his thick waist. Compare the pinwheel
pattern on the dhoti of Mahakala with a similar pinwheel
pattern on a thirteenth/fourteenth century bronze figure
of Achala, see lot 3104; and also on an early thirteenth
century kesi depicting Achala in the Potala Palace, see Valrae
Reynolds, et al., On the Path to the Void: Buddhist Art in the
Tibetan Realm, Mumbai, 1996, pp. 252-253, fig. 8.

THE HEART OF TANTRA – BUDDHIST ART INCLUDING PROPERTY FROM THE NYINGJEI LAM COLLECTION 91