Lot 37
A WOOD SHRINE TO BHAIRAVA Nepal, 17-18th century
29 March 2019, 16:00 HKT
Hong Kong, Six Pacific PlaceSold for HK$35,625 inc. premium
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A WOOD SHRINE TO BHAIRAVA
Nepal, 17-18th century
with remains of polychromy.
Himalayan Art Resources item no. 61760
53 cm. (20 7/8 in.) high
with remains of polychromy.
Himalayan Art Resources item no. 61760
53 cm. (20 7/8 in.) high
Footnotes
尼泊爾 十七至十八世紀 陪臚木刻神龕
Provenance
Private Florida Collection, acquired in Nepal, 1967
This rare shrine depicts the awesome face of Bhairava, the wrathful manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva, and conceptual antecedent to Vajrayana Buddhism's Mahakala. More common are the standalone 'Bhairava masks' of the Indrajatra festival, and shrines reproducing his full form (e.g. Bonhams, New York, 19 March 2018, lot 3040, and 13 September 2011, lot 1008; Pal, Art of Nepal, Los Angeles, 1985, p.130, no. S58; respectively). But here, Bhairava's two sons, Ganesha and Kumara, add auspiciousness, while staunch lions echo his striking countenance.