A FINE GILT-BRONZE STANDING GUARDIAN FIGURE, VAISRAVANA

細節

A FINE GILT-BRONZE STANDING GUARDIAN FIGURE, VAISRAVANA
MING DYNASTY

Finely cast wearing chain-mail completely covering the body and extending down to the ruyi-decorated boots, each shoulder with a fierce monster-mask epaulette, with a further mask on the protruding belly, suspending from its mouth a knotted ribbon, the celestial scarf billowing up behind the head and trailing down to the base, the face modelled with prominent features under an elaborate headdress, holding in the right hand a stupa, traces of red pigments remaining
11 1/4 in. (28.5 cm.) high, bronze rockwork stand

拍品專文

This figure can be identified as Vaisravana, or Caibaotianwang, one of the Guardians of the Four Directions, representing the Northern compass point. A deity associated with wealth, happiness and virtue, he is responsible for distributing wealth to mankind in eight directions, and as such, he is one of the most popular of the four Guardian Kings.

A Yuan dynasty figure holding a stupa with the right hand, as one of a complete set of four, was sold in these Rooms, April 1998, lot 608.

(US$24,000-28,000)