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Lot Essay
The inscription can be translated:
Second year of Tianli (1329), Yuanji Shrine, Monk Purui
The current figure is related to a group of Dali Kingdom sculptures depicting ferocious deities, but notable for its comparatively finer and more complex modelling. Two were discovered in the crypt of Qianxun Pagoda in Dali: one is a small seated Vajrakila figure, rather crudely modelled, illustrated in Zhang Yongkang, A Research on the Sculptures of Da-Li Buddha, Taipei, 2004, fig. 3, p. 9; the other is a standing Vajrakila, with very similar facial features to the present lot but also less refined, especially in the modelling of its clothing and hair, illustrated in ibid, fig. 57, p. 51 (fig. 1). Two are in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, both depicting Mahakala and stylistically closer to the current lot, illustrated in Jin Shen, Haiwai ji gangtai cang lidai foxiang, Beijing, 2005, p. 534. The figure closest in style to the current lot is the Lokapala Vaisravana in the British Museum (1972,0301.1)(fig. 2). Not only are the facial features in similar style, it is also interesting to note the almost identical treatment of the knees on both figures. Another interesting feature is the snakes emerging from the skulls worn on the heads of both figures. These details could point to a similar manufacture date for these two figures. Although the interior of this figure bears a dated inscription, it is not certain whether it is contemporary with the manufacture, or added by a later generation. Notwithstranding, the date of this figure would not be later than 14th century, and is
worthy of further study.
Second year of Tianli (1329), Yuanji Shrine, Monk Purui
The current figure is related to a group of Dali Kingdom sculptures depicting ferocious deities, but notable for its comparatively finer and more complex modelling. Two were discovered in the crypt of Qianxun Pagoda in Dali: one is a small seated Vajrakila figure, rather crudely modelled, illustrated in Zhang Yongkang, A Research on the Sculptures of Da-Li Buddha, Taipei, 2004, fig. 3, p. 9; the other is a standing Vajrakila, with very similar facial features to the present lot but also less refined, especially in the modelling of its clothing and hair, illustrated in ibid, fig. 57, p. 51 (fig. 1). Two are in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, both depicting Mahakala and stylistically closer to the current lot, illustrated in Jin Shen, Haiwai ji gangtai cang lidai foxiang, Beijing, 2005, p. 534. The figure closest in style to the current lot is the Lokapala Vaisravana in the British Museum (1972,0301.1)(fig. 2). Not only are the facial features in similar style, it is also interesting to note the almost identical treatment of the knees on both figures. Another interesting feature is the snakes emerging from the skulls worn on the heads of both figures. These details could point to a similar manufacture date for these two figures. Although the interior of this figure bears a dated inscription, it is not certain whether it is contemporary with the manufacture, or added by a later generation. Notwithstranding, the date of this figure would not be later than 14th century, and is
worthy of further study.