Christie’s and the consignors of lots 208-255 intend to donate a portion of their proceeds received from the sale of the lot to Himalayan Art Resources, a 501(c)(3) not-for profit charity. Please note that a buyers who purchase these lots will not be eligible for any charitable contribution deduction in relation to such purchase.

A small gold figure of Yamantaka

Tibet, 20th century

Details

A small gold figure of Yamantaka
Tibet, 20th century
Exquisitely cast with the fierce deity striding in alidhasana atop a prostrated bull over a prone human figure, his right arm raised with the skull club and his left holding a lasso, adorned by a garland of severed heads and beaded necklaces, his face in a wrathful expression with his snarling mouth revealing his long fangs and his brow centered by his third eye, his hair raised in a flaming coiffure secured with a tiara, all backed by a flaming mandorla over a lotus base
138.5 grams, at least 22 karat solid gold
2 in. (5.1 cm.) high

Provenance

Property from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Manheim, New York, by 1971
Private collection, New York, acquired from above at Christie's New York, 16 September 2008, lot 543

Literature

F. Chow, Arts from the Rooftop of Asia, 1971, cat.no.59
Himalayan Art Resources (himalayanart.org), item no.24104

Exhibited

Arts from the Rooftop of Asia, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, May 1971

Sale room notice

Brought to you by

Anita Mehta

amehta@christies.com +1 212 636 2190

Lot Essay

Exquisitely carved with jewel-like sensitivity and cast in at least 22 karat solid gold, this miniature masterpiece would have been a prized possession, not just for its religious significance, but also for its material value.

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