佛像鉴定鉴赏收藏

尺寸：高23cm
年代：明代
质地：合金铜
风格：西藏
来源：拍卖会
成交：未成交(2019.03)
参阅：纽约邦瀚斯
鉴赏：
A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF VAJRASATTVA
TIBET, CIRCA 13TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61918
9 in. (23 cm) high

西藏 ~16-17世紀 金剛薩埵銅像
古比特佛像网, 编号: 金刚萨埵:金刚萨埵092

Accurately depicting the Adi-Buddha according to prescribed iconography, this quite singular bronze figure of Vajrasattva is further embellished with a number of rare and creative auspicious motifs. Surprising fine details are in abundance, including the many incised animals on the back of his thighs, and the tiny wolf-like creature running on the front left of the base's foot. Additional floral motifs between the base's rear lotus petals, and Vajrasattva's crown ribbons being tied in an endless knot, are more enhancements that supplement Vajrasattva's iconography, distinguishing this extraordinary example.  

From metaphysical debates on the multiplicity and unity of Buddhas, arises the notion of an Adi-Buddha: a primordial source of enlightenment pervading the universe, from which all things come and into which all enlightened beings dissolve. His name meaning “Vajra Being”, Vajrasattva is the Adi Buddha ascribed agency. He is frequently invoked for purification rituals and as a bodhisattva. The Nyingma also treat him as a yidam. In certain instances, Vajrasattva is considered a sixth Presiding Buddha, representing their ethereal unity.

The bronze's overall style and iconography closely follow classic Pala models of 11th- to 12th-century Northeastern India known to have inspired early Tibetan sculpture. Compared to one such Pala Vajrasattva, the present bronze is modelled in an almost identical seated posture with a sensuous bend in the waist (von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 2003, p.289, no.72E). Both sculptures afford Vajrasattva elegant proportions and naturalistically modelled fingers and toes. Both also reproduce Vajrasattva's scarf flailing upwards by his shoulder with 'fishtail' pleats.

Meanwhile, the artist of this extraordinary Vajrasattva departs from the purely imitating Indian models by altering the facial type, crown leaves, and lotus base. The downward-facing flower at the center of the base's foot is similarly shown on a 13th-/14th-century gilt bronze Buddha from the medieval Khasa Malla Kingdom of western Tibet and Nepal (Bonhams, New York, 19 March 2018, lot 3019).