A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI, TIBET OR NEPAL, 12TH/13TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI, TIBET OR NEPAL, 12TH/13TH CENTURY Cast in solid bronze and richly fire-gilded, this elegant standing figure of Manjushri embodies the refined aesthetic of the Himalayan ateliers active between the 12th and 13th centuries. The bodhisattva stands in a gentle tribhanga, his slender torso subtly flexed and his weight poised with graceful assurance upon a double-lotus base. The gilded surface, softly worn with age, retains a warm, honeyed lustre that accentuates the rhythmic modelling of the chest, waist and limbs, while lending the figure a palpable devotional presence. The face is serene and introspective, with downcast eyes beneath finely arched brows and a delicately contoured nose and lips. He wears an elaborate foliate tiara inset with turquoise cabochons, echoed by further turquoise set at the waist, their cool blue tones providing vivid contrast against the gold ground. Beaded necklaces, armlets and anklets are crisply defined, and the lower garment is incised with scrolling vegetal motifs and roundels, the chased decoration enlivening the smooth expanses of gilded flesh. The lotus stem rising along the left arm culminates in a blossom at the shoulder, originally supporting the attribute of wisdom; the detailing of the petals and stem reveals the assured hand of a master bronzecaster working within a sophisticated iconographic tradition. Manjushri, the bodhisattva of transcendent wisdom, occupies a central place in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. He is the embodiment of prajñ?, the penetrating insight that cuts through ignorance, often symbolised by the sword and the lotus-borne scripture. Although the sword is now absent, the poised right hand and the elegantly modelled lotus stem clearly identify the figure’s original iconographic programme. The upright stance and direct yet contemplative bearing reflect his role as both teacher and enlightened guide, a divine intermediary whose wisdom illuminates the path to awakening. Produced during a period of intense artistic exchange between the Kathmandu Valley and the Tibetan plateau, such gilt-bronze images were commissioned for monastic shrines and private devotional practice. The technical finesse of the casting, the confident linear incision of the garments, and the harmonious proportions of the body exemplify the enduring influence of Newar craftsmanship across the Himalayan world. In this sculpture, the synthesis of graceful form, symbolic clarity and luminous surface achieves a compelling spiritual immediacy. Compact in scale yet monumental in conception, this finely preserved figure of Manjushri stands as a testament to the devotional artistry and metallurgical mastery of the late medieval Himalayan tradition. Height: 16.5 cm Weight: 425 g Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Hong Kong Collection, formed between the 1980s - 2020's

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