EARLY MING DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY

Details

A SMALL BRONZE FIGURE OF DHANADA, GUARDIAN OF THE NORTH
EARLY MING DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY
The bearded guardian is depicted as a powerful warrior standing on a low rock base, with the left hand raised to hold a small stupa and the right hand lowered at the side to hold a halberd (now missing). The figure wears elaborate layered armor with finely detailed floral scroll around the hem and at the waist and with a mask on the breast plate, and a crown that obscures his double-loop topknot. His body is framed by the billowing scarf that trails down the sides and to the base.
8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm.) high

Provenance

J.J. Lally & Co., New York, 1989.

Lot Essay

This small bronze figure can be identified as the guardian king Dhanada, based on the stupa held aloft in the left hand, and the position of the right arm, held pendent to hold a halberd. The figure is related to larger bronze figures, such as the one illustrated by Giter & Li Yin in The Beauty of Ancient Chinese Sculptures, Taiwan, December 1995, p.82, no. 31, where the larger figure (58.5 cm.) is identified as Dhanada (Northern Lokapala), guardian of the North. See, also, the bronze figure of Dhanada of larger size (36.8 cm.), sold at Christie’s New York, 20 September 2005, lot 146.

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art

View All