NEW YORK – Alongside a week of Asian art auctions at Bonhams, the international auction house presents an exhibition preview of its inaugural Himalayan art sale in Hong Kong titled Images of Devotion: Including Masterpieces from the Collection of Ulrich von Schroeder, starting Sep. 9 in New York.

On view will be more than 20 highly important works of art, including a monumental 13th-century Tibetan brass figure of Canda Vajrapani (estimate HK $22,000,000 – 28,000,000, or U.S. $2,800,000-3,600,000), and a superb painting of a mandala for the "Goddess of Light", Marici from 14th-century Central Tibet (estimate HK $16,000,000 – 24,000,000, or U.S. $2,000,000 – 3,000,000) — both exemplifying the high, museum-quality standard of the group.

The monumental brass alloy figure of Canda Vajrapani, standing over a metre tall, is one of the great masterpieces of 13th century Tibetan sculpture, and is the most important surviving Tibetan brass sculpture of any period, according to Asian art scholar and curator Jan Van Alphen, who discusses the piece in its accompanying limited edition catalog.

A most daring feat of metal casting, it shows great skill and expertise, especially when factoring in the high altitude of the Tibetan plateau which makes bronze casting far more volatile. Depicting one of Vajrayana Buddhism's primary protector deities, the sculpture is a powerful reminder of the deity's invincible compassion, looming before the viewer with bared fangs and a gesture of exorcism. There can be no doubt that he could subdue whatever negative force threatened the devotee's health or path to enlightenment. Its 13th-century style shows a restraint among his ornamental trappings, instead placing more emphasis on the deity's volume, presence, and vitality — a core characteristic of early Tibetan sculpture making it so prized among Himalayan art connoisseurs.

ULRICH VON SHROEDER AND HIS LEGACY
Prominent art historian and collector Ulrich von Schroeder is one of Tibetan Art's most important contributors. In 1981, he published Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, which remains peerless — a groundbreaking methodical and extensively illustrated chronology of the entire history of Tibetan metal sculpture. His 2001 two-volume Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet made over 1,000 illustrated Indian, Nepalese, Chinese, and Tibetan bronze sculptures available for study and research by future scholars, otherwise inaccessible to the world in the custody of Tibetan monasteries. His books are more often than not the first reference that any collector or curator reaches for on the subject of Tibetan bronzes.
Bonhams is pleased to offer three treasured masterpieces from Ulrich von Schroeder's personal collection, which bear no comparison in private hands or public collections. The piece will be offered at Bonhams inaugural Himalayan Art auction on Nov. 29 in Hong Kong, with a special preview in New York from Sep. 9-16.

PRESS PREVIEW
Press are invited to preview Asia Week at Bonhams on Friday, Sep. 9 at 10 a.m. at Bonhams New York, 580 Madison Avenue. Specialists from the Asian Art departments will be available for interviews.
Exhibition preview hours (free and open to the public): Sep. 9-16 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST.

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CONTACT
Angela Zonunpari, Public Relations Coordinator U.S.
[email protected], (917) 206-1609