A NEPALESE GILT-COPPER FIGURE OF PRAJNAPARAMITA, seated in vajrasana on a separate cast lotus, her principle hands in dharmacakramudra, the others holding akshamala and pustaka, wearing dhoti, bodhisattva-ornaments, her face with downcast expression, urna, crown, elongated earlobes with circular earrings, high chignon surmounted by a half-vajra, unsealed, late 16th Century, 20.5 cm high; the figure is placed on a Central Tibetan repousse gilt-copper stepped base, beaten at the upper level with a pair of lions and figures in the attitude of supporting and flanking a vertical vajra, the base with the four lokapalas, Kubera, two different forms of Sri Devi and Mahakala, early 15th Century, 37 x 20.5 x 17.5 cm; the leaf-shaped ajour aureol with flaming central plain halo, flanked by a pair of beams at the upper level, supporting a pair of makaras, their bodies terminating into scrolling foliate, a pair of sardulas, elephants and the bodhisattvas Maitreya and Padmapani, below, the khyung-bird above, holding a pair of deified nagas, all amidst scrolling, 15th/16th Century, 36 cm high (3)

Details

A NEPALESE GILT-COPPER FIGURE OF PRAJNAPARAMITA, seated in vajrasana on a separate cast lotus, her principle hands in dharmacakramudra, the others holding akshamala and pustaka, wearing dhoti, bodhisattva-ornaments, her face with downcast expression, urna, crown, elongated earlobes with circular earrings, high chignon surmounted by a half-vajra, unsealed, late 16th Century, 20.5 cm high; the figure is placed on a Central Tibetan repousse gilt-copper stepped base, beaten at the upper level with a pair of lions and figures in the attitude of supporting and flanking a vertical vajra, the base with the four lokapalas, Kubera, two different forms of Sri Devi and Mahakala, early 15th Century, 37 x 20.5 x 17.5 cm; the leaf-shaped ajour aureol with flaming central plain halo, flanked by a pair of beams at the upper level, supporting a pair of makaras, their bodies terminating into scrolling foliate, a pair of sardulas, elephants and the bodhisattvas Maitreya and Padmapani, below, the khyung-bird above, holding a pair of deified nagas, all amidst scrolling, 15th/16th Century, 36 cm high (3)

Lot Essay

The Central Tibetan gilt-copper base and aureol are extremely interesting as they combine a pure Nepalese influenced craftmanship with a Tibetan iconography. The Nepalese idiom is traceable in for instance the makaras on the horizontal beams with their bodies terminating into scrolling foliate, as well as the turned up, pointed tips of the upper horizontal beam of the base under discussion. These elements occur in the Nepalese art of the 13th to 15th centuries and were brought by Nepalese artists to Tibet. This so-called Indo-Nepalese style was popular in the southern and central areas of Tibet from the late 13th to 17th centuries.
The depicted deities at the base however, belong to the Tibetan iconographic world. Especially the four lokapalas, the two forms of Mahakala and Sri Devi are uncommon in Nepalese art. Most intruiging are the garments of the four lokapalas which are of pure Tibetan origin. This phenomenon is only to be found in pre-16th century Tibetan art. Hereafter the garments of the lokapalas become completely sinicized. For another 13th to 14th century example, see lot 82 of this present catalogue.
Therefore it is possible to date the base to the 15th century and more probably to the first half of it. This is emphasized by the fact that the deities are depicted against separate shaped aureols, which are not touching each other, common until the 15th century. Even the border of lotus-petals at mid-level of the base is reminiscent to an early 15th century style. This picture is completed by the high craftmanship of the repousse base.
The aureol is probably slightly later and can be dated to late 15th or even the first half of the 16th century, based on comparable material and a slightly more crude craftmanship.

See colour illustration

More from Indian, Himalayan, Southeast Asian and Indonesian Art

View All