A COPPER-ALLOY FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI, WESTERN TIBET, 11TH-12TH CENTURY
Standing on a circular pedestal in a slight tribhanga and brandishing the wisdom sword with his raised hand, the other resting on his waist, the bodhisattva wearing a short dhoti tied with a sash to the waist. His serene face with heavy-lidded eyes below gently arched brows, flanked by elongated earlobes with spiral earrings, further framed by his hair cascading elegantly in curled strands over the shoulders and piled up into a topknot. To the back, two tangs, one at the base and the other raised in the center.


Provenance
: From a noted private collection in Southern Germany.

Condition
: Good condition, commensurate with age, displaying remarkably well. Extensive wear, some weathering, and expected casting irregularities. Small nicks, dents and losses, light surface scratches and minor bending.

Weight: 312 g
Dimensions: Height 14.7 cm


Manjushri
is understood as the personification of awakened knowledge. He displays the palm-leaf manuscript (pustaka), in his left hand here, which is his principal identifier. In his right hand, he wields a sword, symbolizing the cutting away of all impediments to enlightenment.


This expressive bronze
would likely have formed the centerpiece of a triad in which Vajrapani and Avalokiteshvara flank Manjushri, representing the 'Three Lords' derived from the Kriya Tantra.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams New York, 19 March 2019, lot 892
Price: USD 31,325 or approx.
EUR 34,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A copper alloy figure of Manjushri, Western Tibet, Kashmir style, 11th/12th century
Expert remark: Note the similar size (15.2 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 2 October 2018, lot 171
Price: HKD 81,250 or approx.
EUR 10,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A brass alloy figure of Manjushri, Western Tibet, 11th/12th century
Expert remark: Note the slightly larger size (17 cm).




西藏十一至十二世紀銅合金文殊立像

菩薩身著半肩式袈裟，三屈式站在圓形基座上，一手舉起智慧劍，另一手放在腰上。 他面容平靜，雙眼微閉，兩側是細長的耳垂，耳垂上戴著螺旋耳環，頭髮捲曲盤成頂髻。背面有兩個支腳，一個位於底部，另一個位於背後。


來源：
南德知名私人收藏。

品相：
品相良好，大面積磨損、一些風化以及小缺口、凹痕和缺損、輕微表面劃痕和輕微彎曲。

重量：312 克
尺寸：高14.7 厘米


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約邦翰斯，2019年3月19日，lot 892
價格：USD 31,325（相當於今日
EUR 34,000
）
描述：藏西克什米爾風格十一/十二世紀文殊菩薩銅像
專家評論：請注意相似的尺寸(15.2 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港邦翰斯，2018年10月2日，lot 171
價格：HKD 81,250（相當於今日
EUR 10,500
）
描述：藏西十一/十二世紀文殊菩薩銅像
專家評論：請注意尺寸較大 (17 厘米)。