A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF PADMAPANI, LICCHAVI PERIOD OR SLIGHTLY LATER Nepal, 9^th-11^th century. Standing in tribhanga on a circular lotus base, his right hand lowered in varada mudra and the left holding a lotus stem coming to full bloom at the shoulder, wearing a long flowing dhoti secured with a billowing sash, sacred thread, and foliate tiara centered by a small image of the Amitabha Buddha, his serene face with almond-shaped eyes and full lips, with a smooth deep brown patina overall and traces of gilding.

Provenance: From a Swiss private collection, acquired in Nepal from a Tibetan family.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, minor casting flaws, small losses, minuscule nicks, light scratches, dents. Fine, naturally grown patina.

Weight: 452.1 g
Dimensions: Height 17.4 cm

The present lot is stylistically related to the copper alloy and bronze figures of the Licchavi period dating from the 9^th century. Well cast, the figure displays the elegance of post-Gupta sculpture, the dhoti finely incised with textile patterns of the period. The rounded facial features still show a close relationship to the Sarnath style. The flaming halo is most effectively executed and the foliate crown displays a remarkable feature as it bears an image of a standing Amitabha, the spiritual father of Avalokiteshvara. As is typical for the period, the original fire gilding is relatively thin and now mostly worn off, yet the fluidity of form and the warm copper tone are thus even more enhanced.

Literature comparison: This bronze favorably compares with the famous eighth-century figure of Vajrapani from the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection. The dhoti is similarly secured with a diagonally bound billowing sash and finely incised with linear bands, see P. Pal, Art of Nepal, 1985, fig. S6, p. 90. Compare also with a figure of Avalokiteshvara with a similarly integrated flaming halo, in P. Pal, The Arts of Nepal, 1974, fig. 190, and a further figure bearing a seated figure in the crown, fig. 295.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 21 March 2008, lot 503
Price: USD 313,000 or approx. EUR 425,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An important gilt copper figure of Avalokiteshvara, Nepal, Licchavi period, 8^th/9^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose and dress, the related mandorla and copper patina with traces of gilding. Note that the figure is considerably larger (29.2 cm) and likely earlier than the present lot.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 21 March 2008, lot 600
Price: USD 241,000 or approx. EUR 327,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare gilt copper figure of Padmapani, Nepal, 10^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose, dress, lotus base, and copper patina with traces of gilding. Note that the figure is considerably larger (34.8 cm) and possibly earlier than the present lot

利察維王朝或之後罕見銅鎏金蓮華手菩薩
尼泊爾，九至十一世紀。蓮華手菩薩呈三曲式站在蓮花座上，右手下垂，左手持蓮花莖，蓮花靠在肩上，身著百褶褲，佩戴五葉冠，中坐阿彌陀佛小像。面容平靜，杏仁狀的眼睛，豐滿的嘴唇。整體有光滑的深棕色包漿和鎏金痕跡。

來源：瑞士私人收藏，從尼泊爾一個藏人處購得。
品相：品相極好，大面積磨損、輕微的鑄造缺陷、小缺損、微小的刻痕、輕微的劃痕、凹痕。包漿細膩自然。

重量：452.1 克
尺寸：高 17.4 厘米

本拍品在風格上與九世紀的利察維時期的銅合金造像相似。鑄工精美，人物展示了後笈多雕塑的優雅，多褶褲上可見當時的紡織圖案。圓潤的五官與鹿野苑風格相似。五葉冠上特徵明顯，可見阿彌陀佛立像。與這一時期的典型情況一樣，原來的鎏金相對較薄，現在大部分已經磨損，更增强了其溫暖的銅色。

文獻比較：此金蓮華手菩薩像與一件收藏於Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection的知名的八世紀金剛手菩薩像相比，更有優勢。斗篷也是用對角線捆綁的波浪形腰帶固定，並有精細的線狀刻痕，見P. Pal，《Art of Nepal》，1985年，圖S6，頁90。比較一件觀世音菩薩像，有相似的火焰光背，見P. Pal，《Art of Nepal》，1974年，圖190；另一件有王冠的觀音菩薩坐像，圖295。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2008年3月21日，lot 503
價格：USD 313,000（相當於今日EUR 425,000）
描述：西元八或九世紀尼泊爾利察維王朝銅鎏金觀世音菩薩像
專家評論：比較非常相近的姿勢和穿著、相近的光背，以及銅上的包漿，有鎏金的痕跡。請注意此像尺寸較大 (29.2 厘米) ，以及年代較早。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2008年3月21日，lot 600
價格：USD 241,000（相當於今日EUR 327,500）
描述：西元十世紀尼泊爾銅鎏金蓮華手菩薩
專家評論：比較非常相近的姿勢和穿著、蓮座，以及銅上的包漿，有鎏金的痕跡。請注意此像尺寸較大 (34.8 厘米) ，以及年代較早。