Lot 161. A copper alloy figure of Shadbhuja Mahakala, Early Ming dynasty, 15th century. Himalayan Art Resources item no.61657; 28 cm (11 in.) high. Estimate HK$ 250,000 - 350,000 (€ 27,000 - 38,000). Sold for HK$ 1,062,500 (€ 117,478). © Bonhams 2001-2018

Provenance: Brooklyn Museum, New York, late 1960s/early 1970s
The Jack Zimmerman Collection, New York.

Note: Avalokiteshvara manifests as wrathful protector in the form of Shadbhuja Mahakala ('Six-armed Mahakala'). Mahakala is a category of Tantric Buddhist deity who commonly functions as a protector of the religion and its followers (Dharmapala). There are many different iconographic forms of Mahakala, each is usually an emanation of a principal meditational deity, such as Hevajra, Chakrasamvara, or Guhyasamaja. In certain cases, however, Mahakala could also be a yidam. 

This six-armed form is the only Mahakala to arise from Avalokitshvara. The protector deity's practice was brought to Tibet by Khyungpo Naljor (d.1127), founder of the Shangpa Kagyu School. Shadbhuja Mahakala was first favored by the Kagyu, Sakya, and Jonang schools, and was later adopted into the Gelug tradition.

Holding a ritual knife and a skull cup in his principal hands, this commanding figure lunges to the right and stares fiercely at the viewer. His formidable appearance is achieved by the skillful depiction of his bulging eyes, flaming eyebrows, and bared fangs.

Stylistically, the sculpture is closely related to bronzes from the imperial workshops of the Yongle and Xuande periods (1403-1435). The beaded chains and tassels around his waist, for example, resemble the aprons of two Yongle period bronzes formerly in the Speelman collection, sold at Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 7 October 2006, lots 810 and 814. Compare to another bronze figure of Shadbhuja Mahakala sold at Sotheby's, New York, 17 September 2014, lot 454. Also see a two armed Mahakala sold at Christie's, Hong Kong, 30 May 2018, lot 2863, and a Ming Dynasty Guhyasadhana Dharmaraja published in von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, Hong Kong, 2001, pp.1288-9, no.362C.