A RARE WELL-CAST GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF DHRTARASTRA

Details

A RARE WELL-CAST GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF DHRTARASTRA
EARLY MING DYNASTY

The Heavenly King (tianwang) shown playing his lute while seated in mahrajalilasana atop a leopard skin draped over an elongated oval base incised with an inscription written in Tibetan, wearing elaborate armor draped with swirling scarves and a helmet decorated with various foliate motifs, the face cast with a serious expression and the brows brought together in concentration over the staring eyes, the hollow back exposing a central, cast ring and three sets of wide copper wires protruding from rectangular sockets, some wear to gilding
8½in. (21.6cm.) wide

Lot Essay

The Heavenly King Chiguo is identified by his attribute, the lute or pipa, as well as by the inscription, Yul-'khor-srungs, Tibetan for Dhrtarastra. This figure may have been part of a group of Buddhist bronzes which were presented as gifts to Tibet during the early Ming dynasty