A gilt copper alloy figure of Marichi, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Sold for US$ 254,500 (€188,323) inc. premium. Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams.

NEW YORK — Exceptional gilt bronze figurative sculpture dominated Bonhams diverse offerings in the auction of Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art on September 18, claiming seven of the auction's top ten spots. The majority of these highlights came directly from private collections and surpassed their pre-auction estimates substantially. Splendid examples from China, Nepal and Tibet all proved popular, ranging in date from 14th-18th century. Bidders in more than two dozen countries participated, with the Middle East, China, South East Asia, the UK and the US all well represented.

The auction's top lot was a seated bronze figure of Marichi, a goddess whose name means "ray of light," cast in 18th century Qing Dynasty China. Coming from a private Canadian collection, the transcendent sculpture reached a stunning $254,500 after a lengthy bidding war, more than eight times its pre-auction estimate. Another Chinese example from a private American collection, a delicate Qianlong period standing bronze Buddha, achieved more than 10 times its pre-auction estimate, realising $158,500.

A gilt copper alloy figure of Marichi, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Sold for US$ 254,500 (€188,323) inc. premium. Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams. 

Seated on a lotus base in vajrasana with her eight arms radiating around her, wearing a garment with stippled hem and beaded edge, girdle, arm ornaments, necklace, lotus bud earrings, and elaborate tiara, her principle head with a serene expression flanked by her wrathful right hand face and boar's face on the left, her hair drawn into a double chignon and surmounted by a buddha-head finial. 13 in. (33 cm) high 

Marichi, whose name means 'ray of light', is the goddess of the dawn, who drives away the night and the darkness of ignorance and fear. In Chinese Buddhism, this deity assumes the female form and is believed to be the mother of the Northern Star referred to as the 'Dipper Mother' (Dǒumǔ Yuánjūn), a constellation in Sagittarius. She is similarly observed in Doaism, where she is often referred to as the Queen of Heaven (Tiān Hòu). For a further reading cf. Frédéric, Buddhism: Flammarion Iconographic Guides, Paris, 1995, pp. 224-5. 

For another bronze most likely cast in a monastery in Beijing during the reign of the Qianlong emperor (1736-96), see Pal & Tseng, Lamaist Art, Boston, 1969, no. 47. Additionally, an example of Ushnishavijaya of similar size and style was sold at Koller, Zurich, 7-8 May 2013, lot 130 and Christie's, South Kensington, 15 May 2008, lot 379. Lastly, a monumental version exhibiting an almost identical treatment of the face, jewelry, sash, and robe is held in the Brooklyn Museum of Art (10.221).

Provenance: Private Collection, Canada
Christie's, New York, 20 September 2000, lot 111

A gilt copper alloy figure of Buddha, Qianlong period, 1736-1796. Sold for US$ 158,500 (€117,285) inc. premium. Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams.

Brilliantly gilded and finely cast, standing on a lotus pedestal, adorned in an outer robe draped in symmetrical raised folds with incised collar and hems, right hand inabhaya mudra and left in varada mudra, his blissful facial expression with steadfast eyes and a serene smile, flanked by pendulous earlobes, the hair bound in high chignon. 6 7/8 in. (17.4 cm) high 

This type of Buddha image wearing a heavy, but diaphanous, robe falling in abstracted concentric folds is commonly referred to as the 'Udayana type' after the infamous legend of the first image of Buddha made during Buddha's lifetime. Recounted by the Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang around 664 CE, King Udayana of Kaushambi in Swat Valley missed Buddha so much while the latter had ascended to heaven to preach to his mother that he commissioned a sandalwood image to comfort him. Another legend speaks of Kumarayama carrying a true copy of this Udayana Buddha on his back to the Kingdom of Kucha in Central Asia from where it was later relocated to Xi'an in 401 CE. There it is thought to have inspired even more copies which made their way as far as Nara, Japan in the late 6th century. In the 14th century, Yuan Emperor Tàidìng (1321-8 CE) commissioned a stone 'Udayana Buddha' which is located in Jiufeng Temple, Nanjing Province and became the prototype for many others. 

An example of a Udayana type figure of Dipankara Buddha was sold at Bonhams, Hong Kong, 26 May 2013, lot 357. Further examples are held in the Harvard Art Museums (1956.202) and the Guimet Museum (see von Schroeder,Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 2008, pl. 158F pp.552-3). 

Provenance: Private American Collection

Other sculpture that performed well included a powerful figure of Yama Dhamaraja and Chamundi, or the Lord of Death with his consort, astride a superbly modelled angry buffalo from the 17th/18th century. The frightening trio, who are adorned with skulls and snakes, are together crushing a prostrate human on a lotus platform. Coming from a private Northern California collection, the sculpture sold for a remarkable 20 times its pre-auction estimate, bringing $242,500.

A gilt copper alloy figure of Yama Dhamaraja and Chamundi, Tibet, 17th-18th century. Sold for US$ 242,500 (€179,443) inc. premium. Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams. 

This superb casting is distinguished by the naturalistic treatment of the buffalo and bull's head and powerful proportions of their bodies. Similar features can be found in a solitary Yama Dhamaraja in the Rubin Collection, see Rob Linrothe and Jeff Watt, Demonic Divine, New York, 2004, p. 177, no. 34. 

Also see Pal, The Art of Tibet, New York, 1969, p.102, pl.72, von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong 1981, pp.550-551, pl.157E and Art Lamaique, Bruxelles, 1975, pl.87. Also compare with a Christie's, Paris, December 7, 2007, lot 368. An earlier Tibetan example from the 14th/15th century is illustrated in Buddhist Statues Tibet, Hong Kong 2003, pp.152-153, pl.146. 

Provenance: Private Northern Californian Collection
Acquired in the 1960s

Serving as a serene counter balance was a jewel-like and meditative Tibetan bronze of Lobzang Gyatso, or Great Fifth Dalai Lama. This naturalistic 18th century example had been in a private New England collection for over 30 years, and achieved $206,500, nearly 10 times its pre-auction estimate.

A gilt copper alloy figure of Lobzang Gyatso. Tibet, 18th century. Sold $ 206,500 (€152,804) inc. premium. Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams.

Finely cast, seated on a double cushion and wearing a patchwork robe with possibly the hilt of his purba extending from the fold behind his right hand in the gesture of teaching, a heavy outer robe draped over his shoulders and pooling sumptuously over his legs, his portrait with a broad nose, prominent ears, steadfast expression, and traces of polychromy for his eyes and hair. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm) high

The suggested presence of the projecting purba is consistent with other inscribed portraits of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, see Rhie and Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, New York, 1996, p. 272, no. 98. The other earlier portrait with his right hand in the earth-touching pose is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, see Pal, Lamaist Art: The Aesthetics of Harmony, Boston, 1975, no. 54.

The naturalist rendering of his robes and the intact gilded consecration plate bearing a finely incised visvajra are indicative of master craftsmen associated with Tashi Lhunpo, see Liu I-se, Tibetan Buddhist Art (Hsi-tsang Fo - Chiao I-shu), Beijing, 1957, figs. 76 & 78. 

Lobzang Gyatso (1617-82 CE) is central figure to both Kagyu and Nyingma orders. Strife between aristocratic factions was reconciled under his reign and he began construction of the infamous Potala Palace in Lhasa in 1645. 

Provenance: Private New England Collection, acquired in 1970s

"The clear success of the beautiful bronzes on offer is a testament to the importance of quality and provenance in the marketplace. We were thrilled to see the active international participation in all categories in the sale." said Edward Wilkinson, Bonhams Consulting Specialist in Indian, Himalayan and South East Asian Art.

Additional highlights in the auction included a circa 3rd century schist figure of Maitreya from the ancient region of Gandhara that sold for $80,500, and a late 18th century illustration to the Bhagavata Purana attributable to Fattu that realised $74,500. A Philippine ivory carving of the Virgin and Child dating from the early 17th century sold for more than six times its pre-auction estimate, fetching a remarkable $53,750.