Tibet and Nepal
See also : India
How to hold a Vajra
2013 SOLD 2.8 M$ including premium
The intellectual subtlety of Buddhism resulted in a risk for that religion to be confined in monasteries. To attract followers, ideal representations have been made to promote the main characters proposed as models.
A bodhisattva is necessarily beautiful, powerful, self-possessed, effective. His jewelry, hairdressing, clothes, are superb. The bronze allows a very fine carving and its gilding expresses the spiritual wealth. This fruitful style has produced masterpieces during several centuries.
On March 19 in New York, Christie's sells a large bodhisattva, 110 cm high, made 1100 years ago in Tibet. The 'superman' of that time shows some Nepalese influences.
The right hand is clenching on the breast an object that has disappeared. The Buddhist symbolism leaves no doubt: it was a vajra, the talisman of the absolute fight against ignorance.
In his quiet attitude, our bodhisattva is Vajrasattva, distinguished from Vajrapani brandishing the object with fury and with Vajradhara, holding the vajra in both hands, who is a quintessential Buddha.
Of course, this bodhisattva was made several centuries after the sculpted stones of Gandhara. As a gilt bronze, it is a figure of high antiquity which anticipates the preaching of Atisha and the extension of the cult of Amitabha, the Buddha of extreme bliss.
POST SALE COMMENT
The estimate was not published, but this large bronze was announced as a masterpiece. It is confirmed: $ 2.8 million including premium.
A bodhisattva is necessarily beautiful, powerful, self-possessed, effective. His jewelry, hairdressing, clothes, are superb. The bronze allows a very fine carving and its gilding expresses the spiritual wealth. This fruitful style has produced masterpieces during several centuries.
On March 19 in New York, Christie's sells a large bodhisattva, 110 cm high, made 1100 years ago in Tibet. The 'superman' of that time shows some Nepalese influences.
The right hand is clenching on the breast an object that has disappeared. The Buddhist symbolism leaves no doubt: it was a vajra, the talisman of the absolute fight against ignorance.
In his quiet attitude, our bodhisattva is Vajrasattva, distinguished from Vajrapani brandishing the object with fury and with Vajradhara, holding the vajra in both hands, who is a quintessential Buddha.
Of course, this bodhisattva was made several centuries after the sculpted stones of Gandhara. As a gilt bronze, it is a figure of high antiquity which anticipates the preaching of Atisha and the extension of the cult of Amitabha, the Buddha of extreme bliss.
POST SALE COMMENT
The estimate was not published, but this large bronze was announced as a masterpiece. It is confirmed: $ 2.8 million including premium.
Precious Avalokiteshvara
2008 SOLD 1.5 M$ including premium
Christie's offers for sale on September 15 in New York for $ 1.2 million a statue of Avalokiteshvara (Lot 13).
Avalokiteshvara is one of eight Great Bodhisattvas, disciples who made the vow to follow the path shown by the Buddha Shakyamuni. He has other names that lovers of Asian art are familiar with, as the representative statuettes are numerous: Guanyin in Chinese, Kannon in Japanese.
Avalokiteshvara is masculine, but its derivatives Guanyin and Kannon are female (which is not necessarily a contradiction according to the postulates of successive lives of Buddhism).
The gilt bronze statue of 68 cm high was made 1100 years ago in Tibet but inspired by the style of Kashmir. The representation is realistic, although the chest is too strong and the arms are too long. The attitude is supposed to express compassion.
It is covered from head to feet with ornaments made of precious materials.
Avalokiteshvara is one of eight Great Bodhisattvas, disciples who made the vow to follow the path shown by the Buddha Shakyamuni. He has other names that lovers of Asian art are familiar with, as the representative statuettes are numerous: Guanyin in Chinese, Kannon in Japanese.
Avalokiteshvara is masculine, but its derivatives Guanyin and Kannon are female (which is not necessarily a contradiction according to the postulates of successive lives of Buddhism).
The gilt bronze statue of 68 cm high was made 1100 years ago in Tibet but inspired by the style of Kashmir. The representation is realistic, although the chest is too strong and the arms are too long. The attitude is supposed to express compassion.
It is covered from head to feet with ornaments made of precious materials.
Awakening with the Sage
2015 SOLD for $ 4.9M including premium
Asian Buddhist bronzes show figures of deities that express the full range of helpful attitudes for communicating with the faithful: serenity, meditation, intimidation. The portraits of actual personalities are scarce.
The collector Robert Hatfield Ellsworth liked to surround himself with his favorite pieces scattered in his huge apartment in Manhattan. On the headboard of his bedroom, his preferred bronze greeted his awakening every morning. He named it his Yogi.
This statuette 32 cm high is the portrait of a sage seated in the lotus position. The wide open eyes indicate his will to communicate with his visitors and classifies him among the teachers. The smooth forehead without the third eye is confirming that the model was a human.
Several elements including the fleshy body and the dense and curly hair are reminiscent of Padampa Sangye. This important mahasiddha (great Buddhist adept) was born in South India and died 900 years ago after teaching perfection in Tibet for many years.
This bronze is estimated $ 1M for sale without reserves by Christie's in New York on March 17, lot 8. The subtitle of this lot in the catalog originates it in Tibet in the 11th or 12th century of our calendar, considering in fact that this figure is contemporary of the life of the sage or slightly later.
The collector Robert Hatfield Ellsworth liked to surround himself with his favorite pieces scattered in his huge apartment in Manhattan. On the headboard of his bedroom, his preferred bronze greeted his awakening every morning. He named it his Yogi.
This statuette 32 cm high is the portrait of a sage seated in the lotus position. The wide open eyes indicate his will to communicate with his visitors and classifies him among the teachers. The smooth forehead without the third eye is confirming that the model was a human.
Several elements including the fleshy body and the dense and curly hair are reminiscent of Padampa Sangye. This important mahasiddha (great Buddhist adept) was born in South India and died 900 years ago after teaching perfection in Tibet for many years.
This bronze is estimated $ 1M for sale without reserves by Christie's in New York on March 17, lot 8. The subtitle of this lot in the catalog originates it in Tibet in the 11th or 12th century of our calendar, considering in fact that this figure is contemporary of the life of the sage or slightly later.
Five Himalayan masterpieces from the Ellsworth Collection http://t.co/AhFhM0yAb5 #ArtDigest pic.twitter.com/28TWFu2r8l
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) March 5, 2015
13th/14th century CE Padmapani
1
2015 SOLD for $ 8.2M by Christie's
With his hand wide open as a sign of benevolence, his bare chest and his face focused on meditation, Avalokiteshvara is somehow the Apollo of Buddhism.
A gilt bronze 64 cm high made in Nepal in the 13th century CE was sold for $ 8.2M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Christie's on March 17, 2015, lot 25. The standing bodhisattva is in the attitude of Padmapani holding a blossoming lotus at his left shoulder. Its execution is extremely fine.
The simplicity of form and the finely cast crowns and beaded jewelry are characteristic of the Nepalese sculpture of 13th century CE. The pose is graceful with soft shoulders, tapered waists and elongated limbs. The downcast eyes express the serenity.
This figure includes a refinement of utmost importance. The crown is centered with a fine seated figure of Amitabha, the Buddha of Nirvana, leaving no doubt about the role played by Avalokiteshvara to guide humans to the gods.
It had long been at the best place in the living room of the esteemed collector Robert Ellsworth, on the mantelpiece.
A gilt bronze 64 cm high made in Nepal in the 13th century CE was sold for $ 8.2M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Christie's on March 17, 2015, lot 25. The standing bodhisattva is in the attitude of Padmapani holding a blossoming lotus at his left shoulder. Its execution is extremely fine.
The simplicity of form and the finely cast crowns and beaded jewelry are characteristic of the Nepalese sculpture of 13th century CE. The pose is graceful with soft shoulders, tapered waists and elongated limbs. The downcast eyes express the serenity.
This figure includes a refinement of utmost importance. The crown is centered with a fine seated figure of Amitabha, the Buddha of Nirvana, leaving no doubt about the role played by Avalokiteshvara to guide humans to the gods.
It had long been at the best place in the living room of the esteemed collector Robert Ellsworth, on the mantelpiece.
Mr Ellsworth's Gilt Bronze Figure of Avalokiteshvara
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) March 17, 2015
(Nepal, 13th Century) realized $8,229,000 against $3m estimate pic.twitter.com/4D4ot0J7k0
2
2012 SOLD for $ 2.5M by Christie's
A gilt bronze 45 cm high made in Nepal in the 13th or 14th century CE was sold for $ 2.5M by Christie's on March 20, 2012 from a lower estimate of $ 250K, lot 92. This Padmapani figure is very similar in design and attitude to the larger Ellsworth specimen sold by Christie's in 2015.
13th/14th century CE Thangka of the Green Tara
2012 SOLD for $ 1.76M by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
late 13th century - The Holder of the Thunderbolt
2016 SOLD for HK$ 49M including premium
On November 29 in Hong Kong, Bonhams sells a spectacular Tibetan statue of Vajrapani of extreme rarity, lot 108 estimated HK $ 22M. It is unique in its kind by its large size and superb condition.
Vajrapani is the appropriation of Indra by Buddhism. He holds the thunderbolt which takes the feature of a diamond scepter capable of ripping any material or enemy. The Buddhism tames the violence of the terrible warrior into an uncompromising defender of its moral teachings.
The 1.05 m high statue for sale is an assembly of six pieces of cast brass alloy inlaid with copper. The joints are positioned so as to remain invisible to the faithful. The oversized head is painted with cold gold and white and orange pigments. The hollow structure is closed in the back by a plate enabling to preserve ritual offerings.
By comparison of style with a Yuan stone stele showing the same figure, this statue may be dated from the late thirteenth century of our calendar. The turquoise and coral insets are later.
The artist has done everything to symbolize a fierce power : massive proportions, raised arm brandishing the lightning, knee bent by the warrior in action, lower garment decorated with tiger skin, wild facial expression, wide open bulging eyes, flaming beard, and the long fangs at the corners of the mouth.
Please watch the video shared by Bonhams.
Vajrapani is the appropriation of Indra by Buddhism. He holds the thunderbolt which takes the feature of a diamond scepter capable of ripping any material or enemy. The Buddhism tames the violence of the terrible warrior into an uncompromising defender of its moral teachings.
The 1.05 m high statue for sale is an assembly of six pieces of cast brass alloy inlaid with copper. The joints are positioned so as to remain invisible to the faithful. The oversized head is painted with cold gold and white and orange pigments. The hollow structure is closed in the back by a plate enabling to preserve ritual offerings.
By comparison of style with a Yuan stone stele showing the same figure, this statue may be dated from the late thirteenth century of our calendar. The turquoise and coral insets are later.
The artist has done everything to symbolize a fierce power : massive proportions, raised arm brandishing the lightning, knee bent by the warrior in action, lower garment decorated with tiger skin, wild facial expression, wide open bulging eyes, flaming beard, and the long fangs at the corners of the mouth.
Please watch the video shared by Bonhams.
Three treasured masterpieces Of #TibetanArt to be offered at #Bonhams #ImagesOfDevotion sale In HongKong 29 Nov. https://t.co/YT0LaQztnM pic.twitter.com/AwUvcDZ2XY
— Bonhams (@bonhams1793) October 3, 2016
Bonhams HK inaugural #HimalayanArt auction views in NY, w/ pieces from Ulrich von Schroeder https://t.co/OunAr7ZpIA pic.twitter.com/QydYDEGqjZ
— Bonhams (@bonhams1793) August 28, 2016
The Previous Lives of Buddha
2013 SOLD 1.26 M$ including premium
PRE SALE DISCUSSION
From the earliest centuries of Buddhism, the doctrine of reincarnation has excited the imagination. They grouped under the name of Jataka a corpus of tales in ancient Sanskrit. In his previous lives, Buddha incarnated any animal and human form along with the most worthy social conditions. These stories are not considered as sacred texts.
On March 19 in New York, Christie's sells a painting on textile, 114 x 84 cm, made in Tibet 700 years ago, estimated $ 600K. Here is the link to the catalog.
Buddha, in the center, sits on a throne supported by lions. He is flanked by his first two disciples. Three donors are also identified.
The rest of the picture is occupied by one hundred small square thumbnails illustrating the Jataka tales, each one with a gold inscription identifying the number and title.
These minute scenes demonstrate the freshness of inspiration of these human or human-like characters involved in adventures as varied and as moralizing as the Fables of Aesop or La Fontaine. The Jataka has on the competing collections of fables the advantage of having a thread, as the human or animal lives of Buddha must necessarily lead to wisdom.
POST SALE COMMENT
This painting on a theme of great rarity deserved to far exceed its higher estimate. It was sold for $ 1.26 million including premium.
From the earliest centuries of Buddhism, the doctrine of reincarnation has excited the imagination. They grouped under the name of Jataka a corpus of tales in ancient Sanskrit. In his previous lives, Buddha incarnated any animal and human form along with the most worthy social conditions. These stories are not considered as sacred texts.
On March 19 in New York, Christie's sells a painting on textile, 114 x 84 cm, made in Tibet 700 years ago, estimated $ 600K. Here is the link to the catalog.
Buddha, in the center, sits on a throne supported by lions. He is flanked by his first two disciples. Three donors are also identified.
The rest of the picture is occupied by one hundred small square thumbnails illustrating the Jataka tales, each one with a gold inscription identifying the number and title.
These minute scenes demonstrate the freshness of inspiration of these human or human-like characters involved in adventures as varied and as moralizing as the Fables of Aesop or La Fontaine. The Jataka has on the competing collections of fables the advantage of having a thread, as the human or animal lives of Buddha must necessarily lead to wisdom.
POST SALE COMMENT
This painting on a theme of great rarity deserved to far exceed its higher estimate. It was sold for $ 1.26 million including premium.
1375 A Mandala for each Deity
2019 SOLD for $ 2.4M including premium
Prepared by a Buddhist monk 900 years ago, the Vajravali is a compilation for accessing all the areas of universal knowledge entrusted to 42 deities each residing in his or her mandala. The iconographic guide of this text invites to animated, colorful and joyful representations while clearly defining the fortified and jealously guarded border between the celestial palace and the profane world.
A cycle of thangkas includes in the center of the upper register of each piece the figure of His Holiness the Dharma Lord, an honorific name of an important Tibetan Lama who died in 1375 CE, while missing to identify whether the series was painted in his lifetime or shortly afterward. Nearly twenty pieces survived, in a unique format around 84 x 75 cm. The experts assume that the group of artists was of Nepalese origin.
These thangkas are numbered, probably since their creation. Opus 19, which passed at Bonhams on November 29, 2016, is the mandala of Marici, the goddess of light.
On March 21 in New York, Sotheby's sells the Opus 26, dedicated to Hevajra, lot 936 estimated $ 800K. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Hevajra is a male deity of meditation with eight heads and sixteen arms. Each hand holds a symbol of the universe. He is entwined in a dance movement with one of his wives or with another deity. Sometimes he tramples the prostrate ignorance.
The central part of the mandala is a five-chamber apartment to accommodate the five manifestations of Hevajra shown each time in another carnation. A large number of goddesses are dancing inside and outside this apartment.
A cycle of thangkas includes in the center of the upper register of each piece the figure of His Holiness the Dharma Lord, an honorific name of an important Tibetan Lama who died in 1375 CE, while missing to identify whether the series was painted in his lifetime or shortly afterward. Nearly twenty pieces survived, in a unique format around 84 x 75 cm. The experts assume that the group of artists was of Nepalese origin.
These thangkas are numbered, probably since their creation. Opus 19, which passed at Bonhams on November 29, 2016, is the mandala of Marici, the goddess of light.
On March 21 in New York, Sotheby's sells the Opus 26, dedicated to Hevajra, lot 936 estimated $ 800K. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Hevajra is a male deity of meditation with eight heads and sixteen arms. Each hand holds a symbol of the universe. He is entwined in a dance movement with one of his wives or with another deity. Sometimes he tramples the prostrate ignorance.
The central part of the mandala is a five-chamber apartment to accommodate the five manifestations of Hevajra shown each time in another carnation. A large number of goddesses are dancing inside and outside this apartment.
This extremely rare Thangka Depicting a Hevajra Mandala achieved $2.4 million - a record for any Tibetan painting - this week in #NYC. Click below for an in-depth look at this record-breaking work https://t.co/Jnxj09wUWy pic.twitter.com/yZeKrALOfA
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) March 22, 2019
Himalayan Enlightenment
2017 SOLD for $ 3.85M including premium
The art of gilded metal is millenarian in the mountains of the Himalayas. In the loneliness of their monasteries the artists developed and maintained some original features with great refinement and sharpness in the carving.
On September 13 in New York, Christie's sells a 51 cm high Buddha in golden bronze made in Nepal 800 to 600 years ago, lot 620 estimated $ 600K. This hollowed figure served as a reliquary and still preserves a mixture of scriptures, fabrics and herbs.
The Sage is figured at the moment when he reaches the enlightenment after having finally repelled the demons. He is sitting in the position of the bhumisparsha mudra : the palm of the left hand is open upward for an offering and the right hand touches the ground to signify that Buddha's body is now providing the mystical connection between Earth and Heaven. The gaze is in retrospection, the third eye is prominent and the toes are splayed.
On October 3 in Hong Kong, Bonhams sells a 34 cm high Buddha in the same posture except that the lightning appears under the right hand. It was made in Tibet 600 to 500 years ago in copper alloy, gilt with the exception of the lapis dyed hair and of the offering bowl which here has survived. This figure is estimated HK $ 15M, lot 22.
On this piece which is more recent than the statuette discussed above, the deviation from the Buddhist canon is more visible, including a triangular face emphasizing the broad forehead at the expense of the chin and a sharp edged nose. The bust and arms are too long, probably deliberately to accentuate the commanding attitude. The patchwork robe inlaid with turquoises, garnets and lapis is inspired by the Chinese imperial silk garments.
It is the first of the the three lots highlighted by Bonhams in the video below.
RESULTS INCLUDING PREMIUM :
Nepal at Christie's : SOLD for $ 3.85M
Tibet at Bonhams : SOLD for HK$ 18M
On September 13 in New York, Christie's sells a 51 cm high Buddha in golden bronze made in Nepal 800 to 600 years ago, lot 620 estimated $ 600K. This hollowed figure served as a reliquary and still preserves a mixture of scriptures, fabrics and herbs.
The Sage is figured at the moment when he reaches the enlightenment after having finally repelled the demons. He is sitting in the position of the bhumisparsha mudra : the palm of the left hand is open upward for an offering and the right hand touches the ground to signify that Buddha's body is now providing the mystical connection between Earth and Heaven. The gaze is in retrospection, the third eye is prominent and the toes are splayed.
On October 3 in Hong Kong, Bonhams sells a 34 cm high Buddha in the same posture except that the lightning appears under the right hand. It was made in Tibet 600 to 500 years ago in copper alloy, gilt with the exception of the lapis dyed hair and of the offering bowl which here has survived. This figure is estimated HK $ 15M, lot 22.
On this piece which is more recent than the statuette discussed above, the deviation from the Buddhist canon is more visible, including a triangular face emphasizing the broad forehead at the expense of the chin and a sharp edged nose. The bust and arms are too long, probably deliberately to accentuate the commanding attitude. The patchwork robe inlaid with turquoises, garnets and lapis is inspired by the Chinese imperial silk garments.
It is the first of the the three lots highlighted by Bonhams in the video below.
RESULTS INCLUDING PREMIUM :
Nepal at Christie's : SOLD for $ 3.85M
Tibet at Bonhams : SOLD for HK$ 18M
5 minutes with... A Himalayan gilt-bronze Buddha https://t.co/w5LOJdSawk pic.twitter.com/17nDyMqA3N
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) September 5, 2017
Rare and unique Tibetan gilt copper alloy figure of Akshobhya to lead Images of Devotion sale in HK https://t.co/pN4aU822FR pic.twitter.com/8X4nkG8NsJ
— Bonhams (@bonhams1793) September 8, 2017
1427-1435 Feudal Buddhism in Tibet
2018 SOLD for $ 1.2M including premium
On March 19 in New York, Bonhams sells a gilt copper alloy figure of Avalokiteshvara, lot 3033 estimated $ 1M. This piece displays on the circumference of its double lotus base a highly rare inscription which allows to place it precisely in Tibetan history and names the artist.
Under the Yuan dynasty Tibet was vassal of the Chinese empire. The early Ming seek a religious legitimacy from Tibetan lamas without interfering in politics, and Tibet falls into a feudalist regime where dynastic or sectarian civil war is endemic.
The very long reign of gongma Drakpa Gyaltsen was however relatively quiet. Under his protection the new Buddhist sect Gelug creates several monasteries. At the end of this period a young fief leader of Central Tibet named Norzang founds the Jamchen monastery circa 1427 CE with his spiritual teacher of the Sakya traditional sect.
The inscription names as patrons that Sakya master assimilated to a bodhisattva and the "ruling brothers" Norzang and Palzang, eager to create a place of worship where the faithful can reach the stage of omniscience. The name of the artist is Sonam Gyaltsen.
In 1435 Norzang took advantage of the civil war for the gongma's succession to sustainably take over the political power with a function of regent. At this date his brother has disappeared from history. Assuming that the referred place of worship is Jamchen, this defines the post quem and ante quem terminus of the lot at 1427 and 1435 CE, an unusual accuracy for a piece of Buddhist art.
This statuette of a refined execution is 68 cm high, a large size compared to other pieces of its period. It was thus most likely the central part of an altar. It shows Avalokiteshvara in his role as omnipotent Lord with eleven heads and one thousand arms, here reduced for the convenience of the figuration to eight primary arms and thirty-four secondary arms forming a beautiful radiant winged shape. This scarce image of the most popular bodhisattva certainly relates with Norzang's personal ambition.
Please watch the video shared by Bonhams.
Under the Yuan dynasty Tibet was vassal of the Chinese empire. The early Ming seek a religious legitimacy from Tibetan lamas without interfering in politics, and Tibet falls into a feudalist regime where dynastic or sectarian civil war is endemic.
The very long reign of gongma Drakpa Gyaltsen was however relatively quiet. Under his protection the new Buddhist sect Gelug creates several monasteries. At the end of this period a young fief leader of Central Tibet named Norzang founds the Jamchen monastery circa 1427 CE with his spiritual teacher of the Sakya traditional sect.
The inscription names as patrons that Sakya master assimilated to a bodhisattva and the "ruling brothers" Norzang and Palzang, eager to create a place of worship where the faithful can reach the stage of omniscience. The name of the artist is Sonam Gyaltsen.
In 1435 Norzang took advantage of the civil war for the gongma's succession to sustainably take over the political power with a function of regent. At this date his brother has disappeared from history. Assuming that the referred place of worship is Jamchen, this defines the post quem and ante quem terminus of the lot at 1427 and 1435 CE, an unusual accuracy for a piece of Buddhist art.
This statuette of a refined execution is 68 cm high, a large size compared to other pieces of its period. It was thus most likely the central part of an altar. It shows Avalokiteshvara in his role as omnipotent Lord with eleven heads and one thousand arms, here reduced for the convenience of the figuration to eight primary arms and thirty-four secondary arms forming a beautiful radiant winged shape. This scarce image of the most popular bodhisattva certainly relates with Norzang's personal ambition.
Please watch the video shared by Bonhams.
A gilt copper alloy figure of #Avalokiteshvara Sahasrabhuja Ekadasamukha, also know as The Jamchen Avalokiteshvara by Sonam Gyaltsen, brought an outstanding $1,212,500 during today's Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art sale during #AsiaWeekNY https://t.co/gfVqvDtp87 pic.twitter.com/3jyyMbtcEp
— Bonhams (@bonhams1793) March 19, 2018
