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Lot Essay
Si les conques représentent un élément rituel important, tant dans la tradition hindoue comme instrument de Vishnu, que dans la tradition bouddhiste comme coupe libatoire souvent rehaussée d’une monture en argent, seuls quelques exemples sculptés sont connus. M. Lerner, dans The Flame and the Lotus, 1985, cat. no. 29, reproduit trois objets de ce type, datés autour du XIe siècle et attribués à l’art de l’Inde du nord. Le thème des rishis qui orne cette conque renvoie vraisemblablement à la constellation Saptarishi (Grande Ourse). Cette coupe peut être rapprochée d’une autre conque sculptée de scènes similaires, vendue chez Sotheby’s, New York, 28 mars 1996, lot 119.
While the conch shell is an important ritual implement in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition, as Vishnu's trumpet or as a libation instrument often elaborated with silver mounts, relatively few carved examples are known. M. Lerner, in The Flame and the Lotus, 1985, cat. no. 29, illustrates three circa 11th century examples attributed to Northern India. The subject matter of the rishis likely relate to the constellation Saptarishi, residing in the Big Dipper. Compare to another conch with a similar scene sold at Sotheby's New York, 28 March 1996, lot 119.
While the conch shell is an important ritual implement in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition, as Vishnu's trumpet or as a libation instrument often elaborated with silver mounts, relatively few carved examples are known. M. Lerner, in The Flame and the Lotus, 1985, cat. no. 29, illustrates three circa 11th century examples attributed to Northern India. The subject matter of the rishis likely relate to the constellation Saptarishi, residing in the Big Dipper. Compare to another conch with a similar scene sold at Sotheby's New York, 28 March 1996, lot 119.