TIBET, 14TH CENTURY

Details

An Imperial gilt bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara
Tibet, 14th Century
Superbly cast seated in lalitasana with his right leg pendent and his hands in varadha and vitarka mudra, wearing long flowing robes delicately incised with floral sprays and a diaper pattern, a sash draped across the arms and beaded necklaces and armlets inset with hardstones, his face slightly tilted with a benevolant smile, surmounted by a foliate tiara and high cylindrical topknot, richly gilt overall, the base with a square copper seal for consecration
12¼ in. (31 cm.) high

Provenance

Mayuyama & Company, Ltd., Tokyo, mid 1960s
Ellsworth and Goldie, New York, before 1971
Christian Humann, Pan-Asian Collection, before 1977
Christie's New York, 2 June 1989, lot 110

Lot Essay

The exceptional quality of execution of this bronze would indicate a high level commission.
It displays many outstanding and unique features. While the high chignon directly recalls Pala Indian style, the drapery and jewelry is executed with exquisite refinement and delicacy, influenced by Chinese idioms. It must be regarded as an immediate precursor of the Yongle style; compare with Yongle period examples in U. von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1981, figs. 144b and d, p. 157.

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