A PAIR OF LARGE (226 CM) GILT-COPPER REPOUSSÉ TEMPLE BANNERS, TIBET, 16TH-17TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A PAIR OF LARGE (226 CM) GILT-COPPER REPOUSSÉ TEMPLE BANNERS, TIBET, 16TH-17TH CENTURY The two velvet banners each with eight finely chased gilt-copper repoussé plaques, the uppermost with a kirtikmukha mask topped by the Three Jewels, above six square plaques joined by hinges, with lobed reserves enclosing Buddha Shakyamuni, Sadakshari Lokeshvara, Vaishravana, a Kinnara, an elephant, and a horse, all framed by scrolling foliage, the final plaque of foliate shape and worked with a central mantra. (2) Dimensions: Height 226.5 cm (each banner) The Kirtimukha, or Face of Glory, is among the most enduring and potent protective motifs in the art of the Himalayas. Adopted into Buddhist imagery and embraced with particular authority in Tibet, its leonine mask surmounts temple doorways, thangkas, and sculptural ensembles as a vigilant guardian, devouring obstacles and proclaiming the supremacy of awakened wisdom. In Tibetan art it frequently crowns wrathful deities and architectural thresholds, asserting both protection and spiritual power. In Nepal, especially in the sophisticated metalwork and paubha painting traditions of the Kathmandu Valley, the Kirtimukha appears with streaming garlands or jewels issuing from its jaws, symbols of abundance and auspicious force. At once fearsome and beneficent, the image encapsulates the Himalayan synthesis of protection and transcendence, serving as a commanding emblem of sacred authority. For comparison, see the gilt repoussé tympanum at the entrance of the Patan Museum, Nepal. The assemblage of prominent figures from the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon, including Buddha Shakyamuni, Sadakshari Lokeshvara, and Vaishravana, together with animals of potent symbolic significance, both mythical and natural, forms a repertory characteristic of the Himalayan visual tradition, in which Buddhist deities coexist with protective beings and auspicious emblems. Shakyamuni embodies the teachings and historical origins of Buddhism; Sadakshari Lokeshvara, a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara associated with the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, personifies compassion; and Vaishravana, guardian of the north, signifies protection and prosperity. The elephant and horse likewise evoke strength, dignity, good fortune, and prosperity, while the Khyung, a powerful mythical bird of ancient Himalayan origin closely related to the Indian Garuda, further reinforces the protective and apotropaic significance of these temple banners. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Zacke Vienna, 16 April 2026, lot 17 Price: EUR 20,800 Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, gilding and motifs. Note the much smaller size (83 x 62 cm).

图片