Mark Rasmussen
International Director
Lot 12
A copper alloy figure of a Heruka Tibet, 13th century and associated base
16 March 2015, 16:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$50,000 inc. premium
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A copper alloy figure of a Heruka
Tibet, 13th century and associated base
Dynamically cast with six arms holding prescribed attributes, wearing an elephant skin behind his shoulders with its trunk hanging above his right thigh and its tail over his left shoulder, his flame-like hair with remains of pigment.
6 1/4 in. (15 7/8 cm) high
Dynamically cast with six arms holding prescribed attributes, wearing an elephant skin behind his shoulders with its trunk hanging above his right thigh and its tail over his left shoulder, his flame-like hair with remains of pigment.
6 1/4 in. (15 7/8 cm) high
Footnotes
This figure's animal skin patterns, alloy, and energy show the hallmarks of early Tibetan sculptures of wrathful deities. Compare with a 12th-century Kalajambhala in the Essen Collection (see Essen & Thingo, Die Götter des Himalaya, p. 239, no. 149). A thin garland of dried skulls encircles his limbs and drapes below his rotund belly. His three fierce faces bare fangs and glaring eyes below diadems of entwined snakes and jewels.
Although a heruka from the Nyingma tradition, and likely an esoteric terma deity, his precise identity is unknown. Unusually, he holds a vajra rather than a purbha to the skullcup before his chest. In his other hands he holds a human corpse, as well as a damaru, arrow, and the remains of another attribute.
The lotus pedestal is from a later period, but very fine as well. Attached underneath by rivets to his sandals, the heruka bears down upon a crowned man and woman holding ritual knives and skull cups.
Referenced:
HAR – himalayanart.org/image.cfm/41229.html
Provenance:
Private New York Collection
Acquired in New York in 2007