A GILT BRONZE ‘KARANA MUDRA’ FRAGMENTARY ARM, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. This gesture, also known as tarjani mudra, expels demons, and removes obstacles such as sickness or negative thoughts. It is performed by raising the thumb, index and little finger, thereby folding the remaining fingers. Skillfully rendered as bent left forearm and hand, the wrist adorned with a plain bracelet below a small vajra in relief to the lower forearm incised with two further vajras.

Provenance: UK trade.
Condition: Extensive old wear, few small losses and dents, shallow surface scratches. The hollow cast arm was additionally fitted with a wooden core for stabilization some time ago. Fine patina overall, displaying remarkably well.

Weight: 268.8 g
Dimensions: Length 17 cm

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related gilt bronze fragmentary arm, 31.5 cm long, also dated to the Ming dynasty, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 21 May 2020, lot 5036, sold for HKD 200,000.

明代銅鎏金羯剌拏手印殘臂
中國，1368-1644年。這個手印也被稱為tarjani手印，可以驅逐惡魔，消除疾病或消極思想。它是通過抬起拇指、食指和小指來完成的。殘臂彎曲，左前臂，手腕上裝飾著一個小金鋼杵與樸素的手鐲，前臂下方刻有另外兩個金鋼杵。

來源: 英國古玩市場。
品相: 大面積磨損，少量缺損和凹痕，表面淺劃痕。空心鑄造的銅臂安裝了一個木芯用於穩定。整體包漿精美。

重量: 268.8 克
尺寸: 長 17 厘米

拍賣結果比較: 比較一件十分相近的明代鎏金銅臂殘片，長31.5 厘米，見香港蘇富比2020年5月21日 lot 5036, 售價HKD 200,000。