FEATURES ARCHIVE

The summer season presents an exciting opportunity to acquire spiritual artefacts from the far reaches of the globe collected by Mr. Herbert Juan da Silva.

Founding a record company in the early 1950s with a specialist taste for world music, da Silva soon expanded into theatrical performances, inviting dance groups from around the world to showcase their act in Dutch theatres. The concept of exotic music and dance was new and refreshing and da Silva went on to introduce his innovative ideas in other European countries. His project took him far and wide, visiting India, Indonesia, Ghana, Guatemala, Japan and the Philippines.

Over the years he built up an incredible collection of tribal and Oceanic art but during the 5190s, he leaned toward Buddhist art. He particularly liked the mysticism behind Tibetan Buddhist bronzes. Those included in the auction highlight the various meanings within this compelling religion. From the Bodhisattvas, which refer to an individual motivated by compassion who seeks enlightenment for everyone including him/herself, to Shri Devi, the goddess of black magic, a wrathful deity considered to be the principal Protectress of Tibet and Raktayamari, the Conqueror of the Lord of Death bearing a Qianlong Emperor mark; this collection contains something for everyone. The twelve-armed Cakrasamvara locked in an intense embrace with his consort Vajravarahi, signifies enlightenment through the blissful union of compassion and wisdom while the wealth deities, Jambhalas, are believed to manifest so as to bring prosperity to those in need.

Each of da Silva’s bronzes was carefully selected, with many coming from the Tibetan Buddhist foundries of China widely reputed for their refinement and beauty. According to da Silva, these artefacts should not be sequestered to a shelf but used in everyday life and treasured by those passionate about the origins of these sacred Buddhist forms.

Enquiries:
Mathilde Courteault
mcourteault@christies.com
+33 (0)1 40 76 86 05