PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE MOLLY VAN LOON (1921-2000) (LOTS 370-373 INCLUSIVE)Christie’s are delighted to present the Buddhist art from the collection of the late Molly van Loon. Molly van Loon was born in Burma, where she visited Buddhist monasteries and shrines at an early age. During the Second World War, she served with the Red Cross in a remote region of the Himalayas, which furthered her interest in Eastern culture and Tibetan Buddhism. She settled in South Africa in 1947 and began collecting Buddhist art in 1969. She grew her collection through visits to India with the help of the Dalai Lama’s office in Delhi. “I slogged and slaved for years to collect them,” said Molly van Loon to a newspaper when asked about her collection.She played a large role in furthering Buddhist religion in South Africa by lecturing at universities and establishing Buddhist institutions. She remained passionate and enthusiastic about Buddhism up until her death in 2000.

A GILT BRONZE AND GILT-REPOUSSÉ COPPER FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI

TIBET, 17TH CENTURY

Details

A GILT BRONZE AND GILT-REPOUSSÉ COPPER FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI
TIBET, 17TH CENTURY
Buddha Shakyamuni is shown seated in vajrasana on a lotus base with his right hand in bhumisparshamudra while the left rests on his lap supporting the alms bowl. He has a serene expression with downcast eyes below arched eyebrows and the urna on his forehead. His curled hair and ushnisha are topped with a lotus-bud.
13 3/8 in. (34 cm.) high

Literature

‘The Molly van Loon Collection of Buddhist Art’, Unisa Gallery, Pretoria, 14 September – 28 October 1989, pp. 15, no. 10.

Sale room notice

Please note the description of this lot should read "A GILT BRONZE AND GILT-REPOUSSÉ COPPER FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI".

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