佛像鉴定鉴赏收藏

尺寸：高17.7 cm
年代：11世纪
质地：青铜鎏金
风格：尼泊尔 帕拉
来源：拍卖会
成交：545,000美元(2015.03)
参阅：纽约佳士得
鉴赏：
古比特佛像网, 编号: 文殊菩萨183
三叶花冠具有帕拉风格, 佩戴虎爪项链是文殊的标志
— Artemis 2021/12/18 05:18

A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI
NEPAL, 11TH CENTURY
Solidly cast seated in vajraparyankasana (diamond posture) with his hands folded in his lap in samadhimudra, his face bearing a serene expression with downcast eyes, wearing a shawl draped across his shoulder and a diaphanous dhoti, bejeweled armlets, a tripartite crown with elaborate scrollwork and beaded necklace with central pendant of attached claws, with bright gilding remaining in the recessed areas

Provenance
Christian Humann (d. 1981), New York, before 1976, named the Pan-Asian Collection by 1977.
Collection of Robert H. Ellsworth, New York, acquired in May 1982.

Exhibited
On loan to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1976-82 (L.76.24.3).

Lot Essay
This solidly cast bronze has an impressive presence through its clarity of form paired with some bejeweled accents, directing the viewer's gaze towards the expression of meditation. The type of tripartite crown closely follows Pala period prototypes from Northeastern India. While the meditation aspect is more commonly associated with images of Amitabha or Amitayus, the necklace with a pendant of three claws appears to be distinctive to an aspect of Manjushri, specifically Dharmasankha-samadhi Manjushri; for further discussion, see U. von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculpture in Tibet, vol. II, 2001, figs. 219A-E, and p. 936. Von Schroeder describes the important activity and influence of Newar artisans in Tibet from the 11th century onward and discusses related bronzes produced by Nepalese schools in Tibet.

This sculpture was one of a handful that sat on Mr. Ellsworth’s headboard and illustrates the close relationship between Indian and Himalayan bronzes, specifically how the former greatly influenced the latter.