Nepal, various bodhisattvas (2)

Circa 13th-14th century, Nepal or Tibet, bodhisattva, gilt copper repoussé part from a halo, 16 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lots 38 and 39, 12th June 2021, Cornette de Saint-Cyr on aaoarts.

15th-16th century, Nepal or Tibet, Seated Bodhisattva, gilt bronze, photo on Global Nepali Museum inventory nº TC-1 at the Tokyo National Museum (Japan).

17th century, Nepal, bodhisattva (labelled ‘Vajrapani with Candamaharoshana), gilt bronze with stone inlay, 19,5 cm, photo on wisdomlib, at the National Museum of Nepal in Kathmandu.

This male figure with a princely appearance holds the stem of a lotus with an upright vajra sceptre emerging from its centre (see close up on above link) and makes the fear-allaying gesture with the other. Peaceful Vajrapani normally has two eyes, the above has three, and when depicted in a standing posture he holds his attribute in one of his hands. This is perhaps a local variant? The yaksha attendant next to him is Achala/Chandamaharoshana wielding a sword in one hand and holding a noose in the other. We saw a 17th century standing bodhisattva with a yaksha attendant and a long-life vase between them on Sotheby’s

Pala India, various bodhisattvas (12)

Circa 8th-9th century, Northeastern India, unidentified bodhisattva, copper alloy, 13 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 64, 12th June 2021, Cornette de Saint-Cyr on aaoarts

According to the catalogue information, this figure seated with a leg pendent holds a fruit or a gem in his right hand and a lotus topped with the head of a makara in the other, which is singular. We will note also the unusual nimbus with seven large blossoms, the backrest with a flower at each corner, the large lotus earrings and matching necklace, the ornate belt, and the garland that goes over both arms and across the lap.

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, Maitreya, copper alloy with silver and copper inlay, 11,4 cm, private collection, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asia Art lot 766, 20th March 2024, photo and notes by Sosi Mehren on Bonhams

The future buddha, adorned with a miniature stupa on his head, sits with a leg pendent and his left hand placed over the edge of base to hold a branch, possibly of champaka, topped with an object which Ms Mehren identifies as a ritual water pot. Instead of making the fear-allaying gesture, his right hand is folded towards him.

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, Padmapani (Avalokiteshvara), Tara and Manjushri, stone with cold gold and pigment, 12 cm, private collection, Purity and Enlightenment lot 5, 3rd October 2023, Hollywood Galleries

12th century, Northeastern India, Padmapani (Avalokiteshvara), bronze, 11,5 cm, private collection, as before lot 9.

Gandhara, bodhisattvas (21)

In Gandharan art the bodhisattvas with a princely appearance are Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya, and Prince Siddhartha. Vajrapani is usually featured as the protector of the Buddha, often depicted like an elderly man with long hair and a beard, dressed in a loin cloth and sometimes an upper garment. 

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, bodhisattva, stone, 32,5 cm, Auction 1235 lot 1, 8th December 2023, Lempertz

Maitreya is identified by the lotus-shaped water pot he holds by the neck, either with his left hand or with both.

3rd-4th century, Gandhara, Seated Bodhisattva, schist, object nº AC 1974.1, photo on Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, Massachussetts (USA).

Avalokiteshvara holds an open lotus, either in his left hand or in both.

3rd-4th century, Gandhara, bodhisattva, schist, 123,8 cm, Indian & Southeast Art from the MacLean Collection, lot 359, 20th September 2021, Sotheby’s

When standing, Prince Siddhartha often has his left hand on his hip and the right one raised in the gesture of reassurance. 

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Narrative Relief, schist, 20,7 cm, photo by Joan Anastasia Raducha, NG454 on Nimogram

Vajrapani usually stands near the Buddha, holding a large upright vajra sceptre in one of his hands.

Reminder on two statues

The post below was published on 21st October 2022 in ‘A Corner about Stolen Sculptures’. See additional  information at the end. 

A year and a half later these two items have not been returned to their respective country and temple although the Art Gallery of New South Wales states below the details regarding each work (in the section ‘About’) that it is aware (since October and July 2022 respectively) these items may have been stolen. 

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For the sake of accuracy, the following statue, published in a previous post and presently at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney (Australia), was stolen from the Lang Gompa, Shey Phoksundo, Dolpo, Nepal.

Circa 13th century, Nepal, Padmapani (Avalokiteshvara), gilt copper inlaid with stones, lapis lazuli (powder), at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney (Australia).

The following work, also at the above-mentioned museum but without its original lotus pedestal (see here ), was stolen from the gTsug Lhakhang in Lhasa (Tibet).

14th-15th century, Tibet, Kalacakra, gilt copper, 30 cm, Jokhang/gTsug Lhakhang collection, Lhasa, inventory nº 16(A), photo taken in 1995 by Ulrich von Schroeder, published on Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet

Additional Information:

• The standing Avalokiteshvara was photographed in situ by Nik Douglas in 1971 at the Lang monastery, Dolpo, Nepal. The black and white picture was reproduced in Indo-Tibetan Bronzes by Ulrich von Schroeder, Visual Dharma Publications Ltd, Hong Kong, 1981, p. 167. 

 

•  The Kalachakra statue was photographed by Ulrich von Schroeder in 1995 and published online on Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet , with details clearly stating its inventory number in the Jokhang/gTsug Lhakhang collection in Lhasa.

Tibet, famous lamas (40)

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, (painted clay or wood?), Khenchen Jangchug Pelzango, Sakya Sribhadra, Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen, with recently replaced hands, photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011 on virginia.edu, in the shrine dedicated to the masters of the Second Diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet, at the Pelkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

From left to right, (Zulpu) Khenchen Jangchub Pelzangpo, a 14th century Tibetan master, Sakya Shribhadra, a 12th century Kashmiri scholar (see both on Treasury of Lives ) whose left hand originally displayed the gesture of debate (vitarka mudra), Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen, a 13th century Sakya master (see on wikipedia).

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Choki Rinchen, Gyalse Thokme, Gangchen Khepe Wangpo Kungapel, (painted clay or wood?), photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011 on virginia.edu, Sempa Shrine in the Gyantse Kumbum Stupa, at the Pelkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

Circa 16th-17th century, Tibet, Dpal ldan tshul khrims (Palden Tsultrim), brass, 16,8 cm, object nº AK-MAK-1510 at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

18th century, Tibet, Dpal ldan tshul khrims (Palden Sultrim), bronze, 19 cm, object nº AK-MAK-307 at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

We saw a group of six Sakya Lamdre lineage masters including this lama on Bonhams . These two sculptures depict him with his right hand in the gesture of debate and the left hand in meditation, with a vase of longevity in the second case (possibly missing from the first one).

16th century, Tibet, probably Rin chen phun tshogs, gilt copper with cold gold and pigment, 27,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1075 pl. 277C, at the Gser khang lha khang, Bri gung mthil (Drigung Thil) monastery (Tibet).

Rinchen Phuntsog was an important Drikung/Drigung teacher who lived during the 16th century (see drikung.org). He was a layman, hence the long-sleeve outer garment tied with a belt (note the elegant knot).

18th century, Tibet, sMin gling gter chen ‘Gyur med rdo rje (Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje), gilt copper, 10 cm, photo as before, p. 1082 pl. 281A, at the sMin grol gling (Mindroling) monastery (Tibet).

The author explains that according to an inscription at the back of the base, the founder of the Mindroling monastery is shown here at the age of 67. He holds a  long-life vase in his left hand.

Tibet, snow lions (8)

Circa 17th century, Tibet, snow lion, gilt wood with traces of polychromy, 11 cm high, Arts d’Asie lot 99, 12th June 2021, Cornette de Saint-Cyr on aaoarts

Circa 17th-18th century, Tibet, snow lion plaques, gilt copper alloy, 25,5 cm, private collection, Cornette as before, lots 130 and 131.

Circa 18th century, Tibet, snow lion, gilt copper alloy, 8 cm, private collection, as before, lot 134.

Circa 18th-19th century, Tibet, snow lion, polychrome wood, 7,5 cm, private collection, Cornette as before, lots 135 and 136.

Tibet, 11-head Avalokiteshvara – seated

12th-13th century, Tibet, Ekadashamukha Avalokiteshvara, brass, 21,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1097 pl. 293E, Potala Collection, Lima Lhakhang, inventory nº 1145, Lhasa (Tibet).

12th-13th century, Tibet, Ekadashamukha Avalokiteshvara, brass, 35,6 cm, photo as before, p. 1147 pl. 300C, at the Khra Brug (Tradruk) monastery, Yarlung Valley (Tibet).

13th century, Tibet, Ekadashamukha Avalokiteshvara, brass, 20,5 cm, photo as before, p. 1097 pl. 283D, at the Rwa sgreng or Ra sgreng monastery (Tibet).

Tibet, Nairatmya (5)

Undated, Tibet, Shrine to a Dakini, painted clay (?), photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, on virginia.edu, at the Drowolung monastery (Tibet).

This is very likely Nairatmya, a meditational deity whose name means ‘selflessness’, in her dakini appearance. She has three eyes, bared fangs, bristly orange hair, and wears an animal skin around her waist topped with a belt with a buckle shaped like a visvajra. She is adorned with wrathful ornaments, including a five-skull crown and a garland of skulls, and armbands and anklets with an eight-spoke wheel motif. She sits on a corpse and holds a flaying knife and a skull cup before her chest. On the prabhamandala we can see a row of vajra sceptres (around her), scrolling leaves, eight female deities, each standing on a lotus pedestal with a flaming mandorla, and a seated figure at the top, probably Naropa as abbot of Nalanda.

The Drowolung monastery was built by Marpa, the famous 11th century translator(see here ). According to Cécile Ducher on Oxfordre.com , ‘Marpa’s life can be read in light of the Hevajra tantra […] such as the name of his wife Dakmema (the Tibetan rendering of Hevajra’s consort, Nairatmya), his eight consorts (the eight goddesses in Hevajra’s mandala), the interaction with Naropa […]’.

Nepal, Avalokiteshvara (15)

Circa 900 AD, Nepal, Avalokiteshvara, gilt bronze, 62,9 cm,
accession nº 1962.445 at the Cincinnati Art Museum (USA).

This handsome figure wears an impressive crown with an effigy of Amitabha at the front and a small red stone below. Compare with a 10th century Nepalese Avalokiteshvara seen on Bonhams.

15th century (or later?), Nepal, Avalokiteshvara, copper alloy with silver-inlaid eyes and pigments, 32,8 cm, Accession nº AS16-1975 at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne (Australia).

A Pala revival of Avalokiteshvara in his khasarpana form, seated with the right leg pendent and the right hand in the boon-granting gesture, his left hand clutching the stem of a lotus flower that blossoms over his shoulder. His pile of matted locks is topped with a jewel finial that matches his discreet tiara.

18th century, Nepal, Avalokiteshvara, wood, 89 cm, private collection, photo on Lost Arts of Nepal

Tibet, Prajnaparamita (8)

11th-12th century, Tibet, Prajnaparamita, brass, 22,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1140 pl. 297B, gTsug Lhakhang Collection, inventory nº 573, Lhasa (Tibet).

Early Tibetan brass works often depict Prajnaparamita in her four-arm form and standing. The above raises her upper right hand in the fear-allaying gesture. She has a vajra sceptre in her lower right hand and a manuscript in the upper left one. The lower left hand is held flat as if to support a bowl. A large lotus flower is fastened to her hip and elbow. On each side of her unusual lotus pedestal are three buddhas seated with their hands in the gesture of meditation. The rectangular platform is supported by two lions.

12th-13th century, Tibet, Prajnaparamita, brass, 17,9 cm, photo as before, p. 1144 pl. 299A, Potala Collection, Sa gsum lha khang inventory nº 453, Lhasa (Tibet).

On this rare seated version she holds the vajra sceptre upright, has a vase of longevity on her head, and a rosary in her upper right hand.