NEPAL, CIRCA 11TH CENTURY

Details

An Important Gilt Bronze Figure of Amoghapasa
Nepal, circa 11th Century
Standing in graceful tribhanga with his twelve arms radiating around him, wearing a long flowing robe secured with a sash at the waist and billowing down the side, his face crisply modeled with hair gathered in an elaborate topknot centered by Amitabha, with strands of hair falling down to his shoulders and backed by a flame aureole
12½ in. (31.8 cm.) high

Lot Essay

This is a superb example of Licchavi and Thakuri period sculpture, exemplified by the sensitivity of modeling, graceful flow and characteristic refinement. Compare with another example from the Nyingjei Lam Collection, see D. Weldon and J. Singer, The Sculptural Heritage of Tibet, 1999, pl. 9, p. 50f.; and with a figure of Maitreya, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, for a similar crisp treatment of the facial features and details, see P. Pal, Art of Nepal, 1985, cat. no. S20, p. 100. The base plate would have been inset into a separately cast lotus base.

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