Live Auction 12168Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art
A Bronze Figure of Hevajra and Nairatmya
Lot 245Christie’s and the consignors of lots 208-255 intend to donate a portion of their proceeds received from the sale of the lot to Himalayan Art Resources, a 501(c)(3) not-for profit charity. Please note that a buyers who purchase these lots will not be eligible for any charitable contribution deduction in relation to such purchase.

A Bronze Figure of Hevajra and Nairatmya

Tibeto-Chinese, 16th Century

Closed15 March 2016

Price Realised

USD 100,000

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A Bronze Figure of Hevajra and Nairatmya
Tibeto-Chinese, 16th Century
The couple striding in alidhasana on prostrate figures over a lotus base, with Hevajra holding outward-facing prostrate deities and inward-facing animals in his outstretched hands, wearing garlands of skulls and severed heads, Nairatmya richly clad in beaded and festooned garments and a skull garland, holding a curved vajra blade and skullcup with her right leg wrapped around Hevajra, staring up in to his central face, both wearing foliate tiaras
6 ½ in. (16.5 cm.) high

Private collection, Belgium, acquired in 1970s

Specialist note

Hevajra, the primary meditational deity of the Anuttarayoga tantra, is here in embrace with Nairatmya, known as the "selfless one." Both deities originate from the Hevajra and Samputa tantras, important early texts of Vajrayana Buddhism, and were popular in the Sakya order. Both terrific in appearance and attributes, the two make one of the most complex pairs in Buddhist tantric imagery.