Footnotes

A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI
KHASA MALLA, 14TH CENTURY

卡薩馬拉 十四世紀 銅鎏金文殊菩薩像

Provenance:
With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s

This richly gilded bronze represents Manjushri, whose interlocking fingers forward the wheel of the Dharma (dharmachakrapravartana mudra). In turn, he gives rise to his sutra and sword attributes, which are supported by a pair of sinuous lotus flowers. Seated in a relaxed state of meditation, the Bodhisattva of Perfected Wisdom gently sways his torso and tilts his head with eyes half-shut. Black and red pigments applied to his eyes and lips through a ritual beautification practice contrast exceptionally well with his warm, golden complexion.

Stylistically, the delineation of Manjushri's finger joints suggest that this gilt bronze originated from the Khasa Mallas, whose kingdom was located near the artistic centers of Pala India, West Tibet, and the Kathmandu Valley (see Alsop, "The Metal Sculpture of the Khasa Malla Kingdom" in Singer & Denwood (eds.), Tibetan Art, Towards a Definition of Style, London, 1997, pp. 68-79). In this instance, the Khasa Mallas' contact with artists of the Kathmandu Valley is most evident from the image's wide forehead, powerful upper body, and a dhoti incised with leaf and rice-grain decorations. This remarkable figure compares favorably to two Nepalese bronzes of Manjushri sold at Bonhams, New York, 23 September 2020, lots 613 and 615, of which the latter example shares the present piece's facial features and muscular proportions.

Beneath the legs, the placement of a sash that has been cast on the base rather than on the figure itself is a strong diagnostic characteristic of the Khasa Malla style, which can also be seen on an image of Bhaishajyaguru sold at Sotheby's, Paris, 23 June 2016, lot 137, and an image of Shadakshari Lokeshvara sold at Bonhams, New York, 23 July 2020, lot 848.