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Lot 21*
A fine gilt-copper figure of Vasudhara
Estimated Value:
15.000 € - 25.000 €
Result:
incl. Premium and VAT
Description:
Nepal, 14th cent.H. 15 cm
Seated in lalitasana with her right foot resting on a lotus dais, her six arms radiating around her body, the hands, starting at her lower right, showing varadamudra, holding the flaming jewel, adoration-gesture-of-the-Buddha, pustaka, ear of corn and the auspicious pot, wearing sari fastened around her waist with a knotted ribbon, incised with a design of scrolling tendrils, jewellery partially set with turquoise beads, her face displaying a serene expression with downcast eyes below incised arched eyebrows, raised vertical urna at her forehead, smiling lips, elongated earlobes decorated with large ear-plugs in the form of lotus flowers, her hair combed in a chignon and secured with a tiara ornamented with pair of pattras inlaid with turquoise beads, traces of gilding.
European private collection, according to tradition collected before 1995
Vasudhara, whose name means "bearer of treasure", is the Buddhist goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity. She is particularly revered by the Newar people in the Kathmandu Valley. She is regarded as the consort of the god of prosperity Jambhala, but her worship in Nepal goes back further in time than that of his cult. Furthermore, Vasudhara embodies transcendent wisdom and is regarded as the Buddhist counterpart to the Hindu goddesses Lakshmi and Sarasvati, the embodiments of prosperity and knowledge. This large, heavily cast bronze figure of Vasudhara perfectly illustrates the Newaran design language, which is characterised by soft, rounded body shapes and expresses divine grace, peace and well-being. Her six arms spring harmoniously from her shoulders and unfold in balanced movement, emphasising the divine dignity and serenity of the figure. The goddess is richly adorned with an elaborately crafted crown, gorgeous jewellery and a strikingly patterned dhoti, which emphasise her perfect figure and charisma. She displays the mudras of generosity (varada) and fearlessness (abhaya) and holds her typical attributes - treasure vases, watches, jewellery and sacred texts - symbols of both material and spiritual wealth. Vasudhara is worshipped not only for prosperity and success, but also for fertility, both of the soil and of life. Among the numerous depictions of Vasudhara, this six-handed form is almost exclusively found in Nepal, while in Tibet the two-handed form predominates. The rounded physiognomy and richly ornamented dhoti of this figure can be compared with a related depiction published in Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures of the Alain Bordier Foundation, Hong Kong 2010, pp. 26-27, no. 10B. A smaller bronze of the same deity was auctioned at Sotheby's, New York, on 26 March 1998, lot 217. For the dating to the 14th century, parallels can also be drawn to a depiction of Uma Maheshvara, which is dated to 1345 by an inscription and was offered at Bonhams, New York, on 19 March 2018, lot 3020. ÄSimilar facial features, decorative moulds - Slightly chipped, wear to gilding
