A grey schist Buddha sculpted in the ancient region of Gandhara in the circa 3rd century. The Claude de Marteau Collection. Courtesy Bonhams.

Bonhams is honoured to present the first exhibition of The Claude de Marteau Collection, taking place in Brussels, on 10-19 September 2021, before embarking on a world tour from Brussels to Geneva, Paris, Hong Kong and New York. A unique accumulation of artworks gathered over decades by the late dealer and collector, the collection spans works created over 1,500 years in the Hindu and Buddhist cultures that flourished in India, Nepal, Tibet and China.

A 12th century brass figure of Kapaladhara Hevarja embracing his consort Nairatma from Northeast India. The Claude de Marteau Collection. Courtesy Bonhams.

The Legacy of Claude de Marteau

As a young man, Claude de Marteau stumbled upon the art that was to be his lifelong passion while he was on an extended trip through Afghanistan, over the Hindu Kush to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Entirely self-taught, he became a respected dealer and an eminent authority on Tibetan, Nepalese, Indian and Southeast Asian art.  He was renowned for his ‘great eye and intrinsic aesthetic sensibility’, in the words of his friend, the Museum Curator and Scholar of Southeast Asian and Himalayan art and culture, Dr. Pratapaditya Pal.

As a young man, Claude de Marteau stumbled upon the art that was to be his lifelong passion while he was on an extended trip through Afghanistan, over the Hindu Kush to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Entirely self-taught, he became a respected dealer and an eminent authority on Tibetan, Nepalese, Indian and Southeast Asian art.  He was renowned for his ‘great eye and intrinsic aesthetic sensibility’, in the words of his friend, the Museum Curator and Scholar of Southeast Asian and Himalayan art and culture, Dr. Pratapaditya Pal.

A 15th century gilt brass statue of Manjushri from the Ming dynasty, time of the Yongle Emperor. The Claude de Marteau Collection. Courtesy Bonhams.

Global Head of Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art at Bonhams, Edward Wilkinson, recalls the first time he was shown into the basement storage facility, “A plain door opened to reveal simple metal shelving and large woodwork benches, but once the lights came on the contents of the shelves left me stunned. Hundreds of superb Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian sculptures were interspersed with paint cans and cleaning materials.”

Edward Wilkinson and his team undertook the monumental task of documenting and organising the collection that had been accumulated over 50 years. Wilkinson commented, “The Claude de Marteau Collection is a unique assemblage of art gathered over decades with a discerning eye and attention to detail. It is an honour to have been entrusted with this remarkable project".

Brussels, 10-19 September 2021. Open daily, 10am-6pm, 26 - 28 rue Américaine, 1060 Brussels

Geneva, 4-12 November 2021, Bonhams Geneva, Rue Etienne-Dumont 10, 1204 Genève, Switzerland

Paris, December 2021, Bonhams Paris, 4 Rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris, France

Hong Kong, February 2022, Bonhams, Suite 2001, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong

New York, March 2022, Bonhams New York, 580 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States

A gilt copper alloy statue of Hevajra from the Xuande period of the Ming dynasty, second quarter of the 15th century. The Claude de Marteau Collection. Courtesy Bonhams.

A 15th/16th century Tibetan gilt copper alloy statue of the 9th century Buddhist master, Virupa. The Claude de Marteau Collection. Courtesy Bonhams.

A grey schist Buddha sculpted in the ancient region of Gandhara in the circa 3rd century. The Claude de Marteau Collection. Courtesy Bonhams.