Grande figure de Yamantaka en bronze doré Tibet, XVIE siècle

représenté debout sur une base de lotus, en pratyalidhasana, ses seize jambes piétinant animaux, oiseaux et divinités, ses mains principales tenant un kartrika (couperet) et un kapala (calotte crânienne), et embrassant sa parèdre Vajravetali, ses trente-deux autres mains brandissant divers attributs, armes, parties de corps démembrés; paré de guirlandes de crânes et de bracelets incrustés de turquoises, avec neuf têtes, la principale figurant un buffle féroce

Blanche Manso Collection
Sotheby's, New York, March 16th and 17th, 1988, lot 96.

Visual Dharma, The Buddhist Art of Tibet, Hayden Gallery, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA, April-May, 1975, no. 35
Art of Nepal and Tibet from the Blanche Manso Collection, Everson Museum, Syracuse, New York, February-March, 1977, no. 12

Voir un exemple similaire dans l'ouvrage d'Helmut Uhlig, On the Path to Enlightenment: The Berti Aschmann Foundation of Tibetan Art at Museum Rietberg Zürich, Zürich, 1995, p. 170-1, pl. 114.

 

The figure shows some overall wear and losses consistent with its age. There is a repair around the neck, as shown by a bronze coating of a different colour. The prajna is in good condition. The Yamantaka's head is old and of a style consistent with the rest of the figure but may possibly be associated to the piece. A few lapis stones inlay are missing. One of the main 6 arms is broken and missing as well as the garlands which should have hung below his body. The attributes in 10 out of the 30 subsidiary arms are eather partially damaged or lost. One of the smaller hand is missing and 6 other have fingers damaged. The mercury gilt bronze coating on his right feet is cracked an detached in one place. The sculpture is very dusty overall and would benefit from a professional restoration. It is otherwise a very powerful figure with extremely well carved details. Please use the zoom feature on our website at www.sothebys.com/ browse catalogue to closely inspect the surface texture of the item.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Aussi appelé Vajrabhairava le "vajra terrifiant", le 'destructeur du seigneur de la mort' est à la fois l'aspect farouche et l'aspect cosmique du bodhisattva Manjusri, ayant pris l'apparence de Yamaraja pour le vaincre, il se distingue de son adversaire par la chevelure orangée qu'il a conservé et son visage qui apparait au sommet des huit autres têtes. Yamantaka est devenu par la suite un protecteur du dharma. Il est particulièrement vénéré par l'ordre Gelukpa