A rare silver- and copper-inlaid bronze figure of Samvara

NORTHEASTERN INDIA, PALA PERIOD, 12TH CENTURY

Details

A rare silver- and copper-inlaid bronze figure of Samvara
Northeastern India, Pala period, 12th century
Striding in alidhasana over two prostrate figures on a double-lotus base, holding a vajra and ghanta crossed against his chest in his primary hands and a multitude of implements including an elephant skin in his other hands, dressed in a short dhoti incised with a star pattern, adorned with a garland of severed heads and a necklace inlaid with copper and silver, the primary face with copper-inlaid lips and eyes and silver-inlaid fangs, the hair pulled into a high chignon and topped with a finial, the base sealed with a double-vajra
5¾ in. (14.6 cm.) high

Provenance

Doris Wiener Gallery, New York, 1970s

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Lot Essay

The worship of the Buddhist deity Paramasukha Chakrasamvara, which translates as Supreme Bliss Wheel Integration, only began in the 9th and 10th centuries, as part of the influential developments in esoteric Buddhism that occurred in Eastern India at this time. Many scholars contend that Samvara arises out of a pre-Buddhist deity, and indeed, the third eye and the crescent moon in his hair, as well as the items he holds, including the trident, damaru, outstretched elephant skin and the head of Brahma are all Shaiva iconography. Extant bronzes of Samvara from this period are relatively rare; for a very closely related example in the British Museum, see U. von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1981, p. 290, cat. no. 73B.

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