A GILT-BRONZE AND TURQUOISE-INLAID FIGURE OF VAJRASATTVA, KASHMIR STYLE, WEST TIBET, 12TH CENTURY
Finely cast seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base with the left hand holding a ghanta, the right raised holding an upright vajra. The deity richly adorned in beaded jewelry, and dressed in dhoti incised with foliate decorations at the hem. The serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes, flanked by elongated earlobes pendent with large earrings on either side. The hair arranged in a tall chignon behind a two-tiered, pointed crown. The base with two rectangular apertures to the back. Two tiers of heavenly bands, one on each side, characteristic for region and period.


Provenance
: Belgian trade.

Condition
: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive natural wear, expected casting flaws, minor nicks, light scratches, few small cracks and deflections. Remnants of ancient pigments. The gilt on the face well-preserved, stopping before the necklace. One turquoise inlay to one earring lost, of the second only a fragment remains.

Weight: 270.8 g
Dimensions: Height 14.2 cm


This handsome figure of Vajrasattva
is an example of early Western Tibetan sculpture borrowing the artistic style of Kashmir. As noted by Pal, it is known that Kashmiri artists were physically present in Western Tibetan monasteries during the 11th and 12th centuries (see Pal, Bronzes of Kashmir, New York, 1975, p.241). Given its geographical proximity, the art of northwestern India had a more immediate influence on the evolution of early Western Tibetan style than Pala art. In particular, the three-leaf crown, the treatment of his pectoral muscles, and facial chubbiness are all reminiscent of Kashmiri bronzes.


Literature review:

Compare a closely related gilt-bronze figure from a private collection, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item number 61596.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Paris, 11-19 December 2022, lot 806
Price: EUR 19,125 or approx.
EUR 20,000
adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Brass Vajrasattva statuette, Western Himalayas, circa 11th century
Expert remark: Note the near-identical size (14 cm).




西藏十二世紀銅鎏金嵌綠松石金剛薩陲，克什米爾風格


金剛薩陲全跏趺坐，雙手分別持金剛鈴和金剛杵。雙眉高挑，眼睛豆莢狀，自然舒展，鼻樑挺直，嘴角微微上揚。面部圓潤飽滿，額頭寬平，髮髻高聳。耳環造型複雜。上身袒裸，下身著裙，腰間系腰帶，嵌綠松石，項鍊、臂釧、手鐲、足釧俱足。裙裝鏨刻刻有立體花紋。身形纖細修長，頭微微左傾，面容沉定。金色明亮。細節處更見別緻，裝飾細帶，在手肘處打有一結，凸顯別緻。


來源：
比利時古玩交易。

品相：
品相良好，自然磨損、輕微的刻痕、劃痕、少量的小裂紋、顏料殘餘。臉上的鎏金保存完好，停在項鍊之上。 一隻耳環上的一顆綠松石鑲嵌物丟失了，第二隻耳環只剩下一塊碎片。

重量：270.8 克
尺寸：高14.2 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件非常相近的私人收藏鎏金銅像，見Himalayan Art Resources，館藏編號61596。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：巴黎邦翰斯，2022年12月11-19日，lot 806
價格：EUR 19,125（相當於今日
EUR 20,000
）
描述：藏西 約十一世紀金剛薩埵銅像
專家評論：請注意幾乎相同尺寸(14 厘米)。