Page 159 - Christie's Asian Art Auctions PARIS December 2019

This silver sacred image depicts the four-faced
and twelve-armed Cakrasamvara embracing his
consort Vajravarahi. They represent, respectively,
compassion and wisdom and its union leads to
enlightenment and Buddhahood. His name can
be interpreted as one of ‘joined to the wheel
of wisdom and bliss’. One of his distinctive
attributes, the elephant-skin and symbol of illusion
is stretched across his shoulders and held by the
upper hands. His principle hands demonstrate the
vajra and ghanta, symbolizing the transcending of
duality culminating in enlightenment. The couple
is trampling upon the Hindu gods Bhairava and
Kalaratri as symbol of the superiority of Buddhism
over Hinduism.

The artist cast this fgure with an almost
electrifying intensity radiating from the central
face of the deity. The eyebrows is knitted in anger;
his open mouth with fangs and still his face does
not show bulging eyes and gaping jaw is typical for
wrathful deities. His emotionless facial expression
is one between peace and wrath, while refecting at
the same time his impersonality of being a yidam or
‘pure appearance’ who transcendent duality.
Cakrasamvara and his consort are placed in a
parcel-gilt silver shrine (gahu) which was a tradition
within the Tibetan Buddhist culture. The fact that
the present shrine is closed and does not show
a window to reveal the deity inside most likely
demonstrates that it was supposed to stand on a
private altar. Some relics are kept in the base of
the shrine. Most likely this high quality shrine and
fgure were made in one of the major workshops in
China as present for an important Lama. Compare
to another silver fgure, though presenting Hevajra,
sold in Christie's Paris, 12 December 2018, lot 29.

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