Page 148 - Christie's Important Chinese Art Nov 3 2020 London

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ASIAN COLLECTION
124
A RARE SILK BROCADE 'BUDDHIST' ROUNDEL
YUAN -EARLY MING DYNASTY, 14TH-15TH CENTURY
The brocade is woven in tones of blue, orange, cream and gold with a large, fierce, eight-armed, blue-
skinned Buddhist deity Vidyaraja, his dhoti and celestial scarves falling loosely about his body, hair swept
out behind him, trident in each hand and carrying attributes including a wheel and a vajra. The bejwelled
figure wears a crown, necklaces and snake garlands around his ankles and stands before a ground of
flames encircled by a border of vajras.
30 1/4 in. (76.8 cm.) diam.
£20,000-30,000 US$26,000-38,000
€22,000-33,000
PROVENANCE:
Private Asian collection, acquired in 1986
The dating of this lot is consistent with the results of the Carbon-14 test by Beta Analytic Inc., Beta-
22779, ETH-3370.
The Vidyarajas are known in Chinese as 'Ming Wang' or 'Bright Kings'. Each of the five Vidyarajas
assumes a different form. They are kings of the mystic or magical knowledge symbolising power
and victory over sentient passions and desires. It has been suggested that these mystic figures were
ascribed with the power of protecting humans against evil influences by Buddhist monks, probably as
early as the 13th century. While the function of this brocade roundel is not known, it is interesting to note
that Jeff Watt writes in the Sakya Resource Guide, 2012, that the image of Mahakala was use by Kublai
Khan and the Mongolian army as a war standard, or flag, during the Yuan dynasty.

亞洲私人珍藏
元/明早期 錦繡明王團飾
來源:
亞洲私人舊藏, 於1986年購入
此飾經Beta Analytic Inc碳十四斷代法測試 (編號Beta-22779, ETH-3370), 證實與本圖錄之斷代符合

146 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.