Page 204 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019

949
A GOLD, COPPER, AND SILVER INLAID COPPER ALLOY FIGURE
OF KUNZANG AKOR
TIBET, CIRCA 13TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61935
6 in. (15.2 cm) high
$25,000 - 35,000

西藏 約十三世紀 錯金錯銀錯紅銅貢桑阿闊銅像

This handsome bronze depicts the Bon deity Kunzang Akor. Two stylized lotus stems frame
his robust figure, flowering a vase and Bon’s yungdrung symbol by his shoulders. These
attributes serve to identify Kunzang Akor, as well as the raised Tibetan letter “A” appearing
on his chest. Kunzang Akor is the important meditational form of Shenlha Okar, one of
Bon’s Four Transcendent Lords.

Stylistically the present work belongs to a group of Tibetan sculptures, mostly depicting
Buddhist deities, made during the 13th and 14th centuries. A bronze Shadakshari sold at
Bonhams, Hong Kong, 3 October 2017, lot 18 represents another. Works from this group
feature plump lotus petals, commanding figures, large circular earrings, bridged crown
leaves, and bands of inlaid copper or silver decorating necklaces or hemlines. The present
figure’s jewelry is particularly intricate. His necklace alone is inlaid with gold, silver and
copper, and further incised with geometric patterns. Copper and silver inlay are also applied
to his arm bands, bracelets, and hemlines. Compare another bronze image of Kunzang
Akor from the same period (HAR 30578).

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