A very rare inscribed gilt-bronze figure of Kapaladhara Hevajra, Zhengtong incised cyclical dingsi mark and of the period

16 avril 2020

A very rare inscribed gilt-bronze figure of Kapaladhara Hevajra, Zhengtong incised cyclical dingsi mark and of the period

Lot 3108. A very rare inscribed gilt-bronze figure of Kapaladhara Hevajra, Zhengtong incised cyclical dingsi mark corresponding to 1437 and of the period; 9 1/2 in. (24 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 1,500,000 - HKD 2,500,000. Price realised HKD 10,840,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2014.

The deity is cast locked in union with his consort, Nairatma, his head with eight faces, each with the third eye. He has eight pairs of arms and two pairs of legs, the principal hands crossed behind his consort in pajnalinganabhinaya mudra holding kaplas containing an elephant and a seated monk in prayer, the remaining hands all holding kaplas containing effigies of animals and seated monks in prayer. Nairatma is holding a kartrika and kapala. The couple stands on two Maras above a double-lotus pedestal. The base plate is incised with a long inscription enclosing a double vajra, with a Zhengtong dingsi date corresponding to 1437, box.

Provenance: Collection of the painter Joachim Schlotterbeck, Wzburg (1926-2007), sold in 1992 to a German private collector.

Note: The inscription on the base plate states that in Zhengtong dingsi year, Buddhist followers Fubao, Fushou and others piously commissioned a gilt-bronze figure of Kapaladhara Hevajra with a devout heart to pay respect to the four Blessings they received and to support three Buddhist temples.

There are extremely few gilt-bronze figures of Kapaladhara Hevajra with a Zhengtong date. The current figure is particularly well cast as can be seen on the remarkably lively facial expressions of the deities, which impart a sense of solemnity and tension, while their graceful posture exudes tremendous vigour. The painstaking attention paid to sculptural details especailly the jewels, beaded skirts and garlands is also worth noting. The superb craftsmanship well reflects the veneration of those who commissioned this piece.

Compare to other fifteenth century examples of Kapaladhara Hevajra, all with Yongle marks, including three in Tibet, illustrated in Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, 2001, pls. 347C-F, and one in the Speelman Collection, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 7 October 2006, lot 814.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 26 November 2014

Posté par Alain Truong à 11:13 - Commentaires […] - Permalien [#]

Tags: gilt-bronze figure, Kapaladhara Hevajra, 1437, Zhengtong incised cyclical dingsi mark and of the period