Last year, Bonhams Hong Kong offered 108 bronze sculptures of the Tibetan Buddhist Lineages for sale in a single lot by sealed bid auction, shocked many antique dealers and collectors. Few months later, these 108 sculptures, which were collected by the seller in 30 years, are moving to New York, gathering for the last time, then go their separate ways after the hammer falls.
The most eye-catching lot is the gilt copper alloy repousse figure of a yogin, created in the 17th century. Life-size crafted, the sheer size is rarely seen in similar figures. In terms of estimate, the following lot is a gilt copper alloy figure of Jigten Sumgon Rinchen Pel. As the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, he dominated the political landscape of Tibet in the late 12th and 13th centuries, and his name carries the meaing of “the Protector of the Three Worlds”.
Lot 3262 is a group of sex Sakya Lamdre lineage masters, each purchased on different occasions. The other two portraits from the same set, one of Damarupa and the other of Chogyal Phagpa Lodro Gyaltsen, are held in the Museum der Kulturen in Basel.
Auction Details
Auction House: Bonhams New York
Sale: PORTRAITS OF THE MASTERS 108 Bronze Sculptures of the Tibetan Buddhist Lineages
Sale No.: 24217
No. of Lot: 100
Viewing:
2017/3/9-14 10am-5pm
2017/3/13 10am-12pm
Sale Time: 2017/3/14 6:30pm
Top Lots
A LIFE-SIZE GILT COPPER ALLOY REPOUSSÉ FIGURE OF A YOGIN TIBET, CIRCA 17TH CENTURY
Lot No.: 3224
Height: 89cm
Estimate: US$300,000 - 500,000
A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF JIGTEN SUMGON RINCHEN PEL TIBET, 13TH CENTURY
Lot No.: 3236
Height: 23.3cm
Estimate: US$250,000 - 300,000
A GROUP OF SIX SAKYA LAMDRE LINEAGE MASTERS TIBET, CIRCA 15TH CENTURY
Lot No.: 3262
Height: 13.5cm
Estimate: US$200,000 - 300,000
A LARGE GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF A LAMA TIBET, 17TH CENTURY
Lot No.: 3265
Height: 45.5cm
Estimate: US$200,000 - 300,000
A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF THE FIRST PANCHEN LAMA, LOBSANG CHOKYI GYALTSEN PELZANGPO TIBET, 17TH CENTURY
Lot No.: 3293
Height: 27.5cm
Estimate: US$200,000 - 300,000