AN INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF INDRA, NEPAL, 19TH CENTURY

拍品描述

AN INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF INDRA, NEPAL, 19TH CENTURY Finely cast seated in a languid pose with his right leg elegantly folded next to the left, the relaxed right arm resting on his knee, and the left extended to the side, supporting the weight of the deity. The Vedic God wearing a diaphanous dhoti, inlaid foliate jewelry, neatly beaded, and a tall headdress inlaid with further beads and with incised scrollwork, centered by a Garuda-head to the hairline. His face gently modeled in a serene expression with a delicately incised third eye, downcast eyes and mouth set in a gentle smile, flanked by a pair of distinct circular earrings. Dimensions: Height 28.7 cm Indra, the Vedic god of rain and king of the heavens, holds a prominent place in Nepalese religious art, particularly within the Kathmandu Valley where he is venerated in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. His image is distinct to Nepal, characterized by his tall mitre-style crown and third eye, whose early appearance has been identified on an 8th century Licchavi period sculpture (see Ulrich von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1981, p. 307, no. 75D). His high crown becomes more convex in the 12th century (ibid., p. 325, no. 84E) and increasingly taller and filled with decorative elements in the Early Malla period (ibid., p. 346, no. 89A). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Zacke, Vienna, 28 June 2024, lot 24 Price: EUR 2,600 or approx. EUR 2,800 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and similar decoration, face, and crown. Note the size (26.1 cm).

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