Bonhams 1793 : A parcel-gilt silver repoussé figure of Padmasambhava in the aspect of Nyima Oser Tibet, 18th century

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13 Sep 2011 10:00 EDT New York
The Sartin Collection of Asian Art
Back to auction 19672

A parcel-gilt silver repoussé figure of Padmasambhava in the aspect of Nyima Oser

Tibet, 18th century
Inset stones and based seal with original contents; In the appearance of a mahasiddha he gazes directly ahead with a benevolent expression. Adorned with a skull crown around a high topknot, he wears an incised sash across his right shoulder that partially covers a large pectoral secured by four double-beaded bands tied by dorjes . He wears a tiger skin dhoti and is seated on a lotus platform with scalloped leaves. A katvanga staff rests on right left shoulder and the left hand rests in his lap. The right hand is placed across the knee performs a mudra with the index finger extended and would have likely held a lasso.
30 ¾ in. (78 cm.)

Sold for US$ 104,500 inc. premium

Footnotes

Provenance:
Sotheby's, London, June 13 and 14, 1988, lot 106
Collection of Kate Kemper
Christie's, New York, September 23, 2004, lot 156

The identity of this sculpture has been subject to variations over the past twenty years. However, with the presence of the katvanga staff, skull crown and arrangement of the hands this would appear to be certainly a manifestation of Padmasambhava in the form of Nyima Oser.

The contents that were used to concecrate the sculture when it was made were revealed when the sculpture was sold by Sotheby's, London in 1988, (see figure 1). Directly after the sale the sculpture was resealed with the contents and it has remained intact since then. The contents are recorded to include a silver prayer wheel, an iron purba, a silver gau box, multiple inscribed and illustrated prayer scrolls, tsa-tsa, mala beads and counters, various cloth fragments and pouches, teeth of venerated lamas, and lengths of human hair identified to owners.

Category: Asian Art / Southeast Asian, Indian and Himalayan Art

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