A VERY RARE BRONZE FIGURE OF EKADASHALOKESHVARA

Description:

China, Tangut, Xixia dynasty, ca. 13th ct.
15,5 cm (o.S.)
On a shaped plinth with both hands placed in front of his chest in the anjalimudra, the other six showing varadamudra, holding cakra, akshamala, padma, pustaka and kamandalu, wearing vertical striated dhoti secured with a belt issuing a sash falling in two wide loops to the front, upavita, bejewelled, his head formed of four layers of all together ten faces (the upper one of Buddha missing): nine faces displaying a serene expression with downcast eyes below arched eyebrows, while the upper face showing a wrathful expression with bulging eyes, elongated earlobes with ear-ornaments and the hair secured with a tiara, traces of gilding.
Old South German private collection, assembled bewteen 1960 and 1988
Chipped, wear