佛像鉴定鉴赏收藏

尺寸：高31cm
年代：14世纪
质地：铜鎏金
风格：西藏 丹萨替寺
来源：拍卖会
成交：1,875,000港元(2018.10)
参阅：香港邦瀚斯
鉴赏：
銅鎏金金剛亥母像
丹薩替，十四世紀
喜馬拉雅藝術資源網61817號
古比特佛像网, 编号: 金刚亥母:金刚亥母029
高31釐米（12 1/4 英吋）

丹薩替寺金碧輝煌的佛塔很少為世人所見，其中一位有幸一覽究竟的是義大利藏史學家圖奇，他曾在1948年到訪後寫到：“雕塑和浮雕的無盡財富⋯黃金遍佈、燦爛奪目”（參見Czaja & Proser，《Golden Visions of Densatil》，紐約，2014年，頁62）。丹薩替寺約五米高的吉祥多門塔依照藏傳佛教密續儀軌次第供奉各種鎏金銅像，形成勝樂金剛法境。圖奇同時也在寫作中特別提到了多門塔上部的身姿妖冶的女神像。此外，當另一位印度藏學家薩拉特·錢德拉·達斯提及丹薩替寺時也論：“丹薩替寺也許是西藏宗教遺產最為豐富的寺廟⋯”（同上，頁59）。丹薩替寺堪稱亞洲最偉大的古跡之一，而這尊精美絕倫的金剛亥母正出自於此。

圖奇的隨行攝影師梅爾於丹薩替寺拍攝的歷史照片，是我們辨識和研究現已分散在世界各處的丹薩替寺造像的重要影像資料。此尊金剛亥母蓮座下伸出彎曲的榫，用於固定造像在吉祥多門塔的上部，與歷史圖片吻合（參見同上，頁158-59，圖34&35）。其蓮座下方的鏤空藤蔓紋，佛母強健的身型，以及漂浮的衣帶均與歷史照片中拍攝的金剛亥母造像一致。其他存世的丹薩替寺金剛亥母像也有出版（參見同上，頁166-71，42-4號），另一尊類似的造像於2006年9月17日在紐約佳士得售出，拍品1723號。北京首都博物館也有展覽一尊金剛亥母像。

金剛亥母是密教本尊，象徵完美的智慧，亦為勝樂金剛的明妃。為了彰顯其完美，匠師將其塑造為姿容甜美的曼妙少女正在翩翩起舞，藤蔓與法鈴組成的飄帶垂落腿間，柔美輕盈，栩栩如生。

來源
Benny Rustenburg，香港，2007年
歐洲私人收藏

A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF VAJRAVARAHI
DENSATIL, 14TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61817
31 cm (12 1/4 in.) high

Few outsiders were ever able to behold the splendor of Densatil monastery's stupas. Those who did, like Tucci in 1948, remarked at, “a wealth of carvings and reliefs that knew no limits… glittering with gold” (after Czaja & Proser, Golden Visions of Densatil, New York, 2014, p.62). Towering at some five meters high, Densatil's tashi gomang stupas were covered in gilded deities representing the retinue of Chakrasamvara in his celestial realm. The “gamboling” goddesses lining the upper register drew special comment from Tucci as well. Another outsider, Chandra Das, reckoned, “Of all the monasteries in Tibet, this is perhaps the richest in religious treasures…” (ibid., p.59). Densatil was one of the greatest monuments on the Asian continent; this beautiful gilded sculpture of Vajravarahi is one of its treasures.

Showing the stupas intact, Mele's photographs from Tucci's expedition allow us to identify Densatil's dispersed sculptures. The curved tang extending below the base of the present sculpture matches those within the photographs, and would have secured the goddesses to the top of the stupa (ibid., pp.158-9 & 164-5, figs.34 & 35). The openwork treatment of the vines covering the tang from the front further resemble numerous examples of Vajravarahi sculptures photographed at Densatil. Moreover, the robust physiognomy and flailing scarf are also similar to those photographed. Other Densatil Vajravarahi are published (ibid., pp.166-71, nos.42-4). Another sold at Christie's, New York, 17 September 2006, lot 1723. A further example is on display at the Capital Museum, Beijing.

Vajravarahi is the consort of Chakrasamvara and a yidam embodying perfected wisdom. Reflecting her perfection, the caster has afforded her a young and beautiful body. She strikes a graceful dancer's pose, effortlessly resting her weight on one foot. Superb festoons of bells surrounded by vines cascade by her legs. This ornamentation injects movement into the piece, while Vajravarahi's effortless pose and steady gaze provide a counterbalancing calm.

Provenance
Benny Rustenburg, Hong Kong, 2007
Private European Collection