Dora Tan
Head of Sale, Specialist
Lot 1016
A GILT COPPER ALLOY TREFOIL PLAQUE DENSATIL, CENTRAL TIBET, 14TH CENTURY
Amended
2 December 2021, 19:00 HKT
Hong Kong, Six Pacific PlaceSold for HK$690,000 inc. premium
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Mark Rasmussen
International Director
A GILT COPPER ALLOY TREFOIL PLAQUE
DENSATIL, CENTRAL TIBET, 14TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.4508
18.5 cm (7 1/4 in.) high
Himalayan Art Resources item no.4508
18.5 cm (7 1/4 in.) high
Footnotes
丹薩替 藏中 十四世紀 銅鎏金三葉飾板
Built upon the meditation spot of Phagmodrupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110-70), who was considered a Second Buddha, Densatil monastery housed one of the great artistic wonders of Tibet. Eight glittering tashi gomang stupas were erected during the late-13th to 15th centuries, steeped in densely cast and gilded bronze deities. This beautiful three-lobed plaque would have belonged to one of these golden stupas.
In a triangular configuration, three celestial adorants (vidyadharas) gambol above a talismanic kirttimukha mask, each smiling and presenting offerings. The plaque is bordered by a band of openwork foliate sprays bearing wish-fulfilling gems (cintamani). Trefoil plaques such as this embellished the corners of a Densatil stupa's second and third tiers (from top to bottom).
Compare to a closely related plaque at the Rubin Museum of Art, New York (Czaja & Proser, Golden Visions of Densatil, 2014, pp.160-1, no.41). Also see Christie's, Amsterdam, 13 April 1999, lot 85, and Pal, Nepal: Old Images, New Insights, 2005, p.13, fig.6.
Provenance:
Private Hong Kong Collection
Saleroom notices
Please note, this lot has been published in Ge, "Xizang Dansatisi Niboer Liujintongfo [Nepalese Gilt Bronze Buddhist Scuptures in Densatil, Tibet]", in The National Palace Museum Monthly of Chinese Art, Taipei, no.260, 2004.11, pp.14-23, fig.28.
請留意，此拍品著錄於葛婉章，『西藏丹薩替寺尼泊爾鎏金銅佛——南亞文化圈宗教藝術之三』，《故宮文物月刊》，台北，第260期，2004年11月，頁14-23，圖28.