A bronze figure of a Caturbhuja Vajrasattva

SWAT VALLEY, 8TH/9TH CENTURY

Details

A bronze figure of a Caturbhuja Vajrasattva
Swat Valley, 8th/9th Century
The four-armed deity seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus base, supported by a plinth incised with 'L' and 'T'-shaped elements and molded with a lion at the corner, holding a bow, arrow and the vajra and ghanta, wearing a short elegantly pleated dhoti tied with a sash at the waist, a beaded necklace with trefoil pendant and foliate armlets, his face with a benign expression, the eyes and urna inlaid with silver, the mouth with copper, crowned by an elaborate trefoil openwork tiara incorporating images of Amitabha and with tresses of hair spilling down on both shoulders
10 in. (26.2 cm.) high

Literature

For another example, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see U. von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1987, 11B.

Lot Essay

The present example represents a very rare early tantric bronze image. Unusual are the two additional hands holding a bow and arrow, attributes of the Buddhist god Manjushri and the Hindu god of love, Kama. Compare a formally related but larger figure of Vajradharma Lokeshvara, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, cf. U. von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1981, pl. 11B.