Tibetan Gilt Bronze Vajrapani, Ming or Earlier
A Chinese or Tibetan gilt bronze statue of Nilambadhara Vajrapani dating from the era of the Ming dynasty or earlier. He stands in alidhasana or combat pose on top of two human victims lying on a double lotus pedestal. His face is wrathful with fangs and a third eye. In his right hand he holds a vajra scepter and in his left hand, a vajra bell. He wears a tiger skin dhoti and snakes around his ankles, chest, and crown, which is inset with glass imitating precious stones. He wears a necklace inset with red glass, earrings, and a scarf which floats behind him in the shape of an omega. The bottom of the statue has a vajra cross.
Dimensions are: 5 inches tall X 3 1/2 inches wide, 12.7 cm X 8.9 cm. Weight: 550 grams. All measurements are approximate.
Condition: There is loss to the bottom of the dhoti. Wear to the gilt.
Provenance: From the collection of Mr. Williams in Texas. Mr. Williams has more than 50 years of collecting experience in Buddhist sculptures, paintings, and ritual objects from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, and the Central Plains of China. He has participated in sales around the world including in Hong Kong and throughout Tibet and Europe. Similar gilt bronze statues of Vajrapani have been sold at Sotheby's New York on September 22, 2020, as lot 324 and at Sotheby's London on November 5, 2014, as lot 78.
High resolution images can be found here.
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A Chinese or Tibetan gilt bronze statue of Nilambadhara Vajrapani dating from the era of the Ming dynasty or earlier. He stands in alidhasana or combat pose on top of two human victims lying on a double lotus pedestal. His face is wrathful with fangs and a third eye. In his right hand he holds a vajra scepter and in his left hand, a vajra bell. He wears a tiger skin dhoti and snakes around his ankles, chest, and crown, which is inset with glass imitating precious stones. He wears a necklace inset with red glass, earrings, and a scarf which floats behind him in the shape of an omega. The bottom of the statue has a vajra cross.
Dimensions are: 5 inches tall X 3 1/2 inches wide, 12.7 cm X 8.9 cm. Weight: 550 grams. All measurements are approximate.
Condition: There is loss to the bottom of the dhoti. Wear to the gilt.
Provenance: From the collection of Mr. Williams in Texas. Mr. Williams has more than 50 years of collecting experience in Buddhist sculptures, paintings, and ritual objects from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, and the Central Plains of China. He has participated in sales around the world including in Hong Kong and throughout Tibet and Europe. Similar gilt bronze statues of Vajrapani have been sold at Sotheby's New York on September 22, 2020, as lot 324 and at Sotheby's London on November 5, 2014, as lot 78.
High resolution images can be found here.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
