A SUPERBLY CAST GILT-COPPER STONE-INLAID SEATED FIGURE OF MANJUSRI
NEPAL, 14TH CENTURY
Manjusri, otherwise known as Wenshushili Pusa, is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. He is often seen in a group of three comprising Sakyamuni and Samantabhadra; the latter commonly portrayed seated on an elephant. Like the current figure, Manjusri is often depicted holding the sword of knowledge and a lotus stem supporting the book of wisdom.
A gilt-bronze figure of Manjusri of similar posture and slightly larger size (28 cm.), attributing to Tibet, 14th century, is illustrated in On the Path to Enlightenment: The Berti Aschmann Foundation of Tibetan Art at the Museum Rietberg Zurich, Zurich, 1995, no. 64. Compare also to a Nepalese gilt-bronze figure of Manjusri dating to 15th century, in a seated position similarly clad in bejewelled ornaments, but with both hands in the dharmacakra mudra, illustrated in Meinrad Maria Grewenig and Eberhard Rist ed., Buddha: 2000 Years of Buddhist Art. 232 Masterpieces, Völklingen, 2016, no. 140.
The bodhisattva is finely cast seated in vajraparyankasana, his right hand holding up a sword, the khadja, behind his head, his left hand in the vitarka mudra, with a lotus stem supporting a book of the ‘Perfection of Wisdom’, Prajnaparamita Sutra, on his left shoulder. He wears elaborate bejewelled necklaces, armlets and rosette earrings inlaid with semi-precious stones. His dhoti is finely chased with floral motifs, his upper torso left bare. The face has a serene expression with downcast eyes and urna inlaid with turquoise, the head wearing a high crown secured with a five-leaf diadem, the hair piled in a chignon with locks falling over his shoulders. The bottom has a small consecration plate incised with a visvavajra.
Details
- Title : A SUPERBLY CAST GILT-COPPER STONE-INLAID SEATED FIGURE OF MANJUSRI
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Gilt - Copper Stone Inlaid
- Dimension : 9 in. (22.8 cm.) high, box
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Period : 14TH CENTURY
- Collection : Christies
- LOT : 2708
- Pre-Lot Text : THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
- Price realised : HKD 3,965,000
- Estimate : HKD 3,500,000 - HKD 4,500,000
- Provenance : A Swiss Collection, 1980s *Property from the Estate of M Van Ouwerkerk *Sold at Sotheby’s New York, 19 September 2008, lot 302