A PAIR OF POLYCHROME WOOD FIGURES OF NIO (TEMPLE GUARDIANS), EDO PERIOD, 17TH-18TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A PAIR OF POLYCHROME WOOD FIGURES OF NIO (TEMPLE GUARDIANS), EDO PERIOD, 17TH-18TH CENTURY This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005: “No. 361, AH 1999, Pair of Japanese Temple Guardians Edo 17th-18th c.” Gallery price: EUR 4,400 or approx. EUR 7,400 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing. Japan. Each finely carved atop an integral craggy-rock form stand and decorated with gesso and pigment to depict a Nio guardian, Agyo with the mouth open, holding a lantern-form mallet in his raised left hand, his right hand lowered with the palm facing down, Ungyo with the mouth closed, his right hand in a protective gesture with the palm facing forward, akin to the abhaya mudra, the left clasped in a tight fist near the waist. Both are wearing flowing skirts with deeply carved folds, gathered at the waist revealing their strong muscular bodies, framed by loose jackets with large foliate embosses to the shoulder. Their faces showing fierce expressions and well detailed with thick brows, strong cheeks, and large glass eyes with painted irises, and the hair drawn up into a high chignon. (2) Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Height 54 cm and 53.8 cm Nio or Kongorikishi are two wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in East Asian Buddhism in the form of frightening wrestler-like statues. They are dharmapala manifestations of the bodhisattva Vajrapani, the oldest and most powerful deity of the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon. According to Japanese tradition, they traveled with Gautama Buddha to protect him. Within the generally pacifist tradition of Buddhism, stories of dharmapalas justified the use of physical force to protect cherished values and beliefs against evil. Nio are also seen as a manifestation of Mahasthamaprapta, the bodhisattva of power that flanks Amitabha in Pure Land Buddhism and as Vajrasattva in Tibetan Buddhism. They are usually a pair of figures that stand under a separate temple entrance gate, usually called Niomon in Japan. Guhyapada (Japanese: Misshaku Kongo) is a symbol of overt violence: he wields a vajra mallet and bares his teeth. His mouth is depicted as being in the shape necessary to form the ‘ha’ or ‘ah’ sound, wherefore he is also known as Agyo in Japan. Narayana (Naraen Kongo) is depicted either bare-handed or wielding a sword. He symbolizes latent strength, holding his mouth tightly shut. His mouth is rendered to form the sound ‘huṃ’, ‘heng’, or ‘un’. He is also referred to as Ungyo in Japanese due to his closed mouth. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s London, 28 July 2015, lot 12 Price: GBP 5,625 or approx. EUR 9,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, lacquering, and subject. Note the size (64 cm).

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