On 14 June, The Claude de Marteau Collection Sale shone brightly at Bonhams Paris. The international auction house featured the prominent Belgian art dealer and connoisseur’s antiques – consisting of a range of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures.
Amongst 64 lots offered, 62 were sold – which accumulated a sale total of nearly €3.5 million euros (around US$3.6 million dollars). The most valuable lot was an ancient Greco-Buddhist sculpture from the Gandharan region – part of modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the end, it realised €567,375 euros (around US$592,780 dollars).
During this auction, a stele created around the 10th century of Ganesha, the Indian elephant-headed god, was hammered at €60,000 euros. The supposed winning bidder was unable to acquire the work. Instead, the distinguished Guimet Museum exercised its pre-emption right and added the piece into its Collection.
Lot 1 | Sandstone Stele of Ganesha | India
Created during circa 10th century
Height: 71.5 cm
Provenance:
- With Claude de Marteau, New York, by 1967
Estimate: €60,000 – 80,000
Hammer Price: €60,000
Sold: €75,975 (around US$79,100)
The auctioneer, Catherine Yaiche, started the biding at €35,000 euros. After nearly 10 bids, the hammer was dropped at €60,000 euros. At this moment, a lady in the room stated that she pre-empted this present lot on behalf of the Guimet Museum.
Under French law, the right of pre-emption allows cultural institutions to replace authoritatively the last bidder of a property at auctions. This means that the winning bid was overridden, and the Museum acquired the sculpture instead. As for the lot's final sale price, it was still determined by the hammer price – where it fetched €75,975 euros (around US$79,100 dollars) with buyer’s premium.
Established in Paris in 1889, the Guimet Museum has a broad range of Asian art – such as Buddhist and Hindu artefacts.
The Guimet Museum's Collection consists of many Asian religious artefacts
Guimet Museum
Sandstone stele of Ganesha
One of Hinduism's most popular deities, Ganesha is the god of wisdom, success and good luck. Known as the remover of obstacles, he is invoked before starting a venture to ease the path from difficulties that may arise.
This present stele is depicted to dance, while snacking on a bowl of sweets is the subject of this early medieval stone sculpture. Ponderous weight is placed on the right foot and hip, as Ganesha sways to the right. He turns his left foot out, resting it delicately on the toes.
Ten arms are poised around the torso, holding attributes and weapons – where two additional arms (one on either side) are now lost. Six ecstatic musicians inspire this motion – four below and two flanking the garland-bearing vidyadharas (supernatural beings) above. Crouching on the pedestal beneath is a rat – Ganesha's vehicle – adding to scene's humour.
Claude de Marteau
Left: Buddha Offering Protection sculpture (6th-7th century CE), India, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York | Right: Shiva as Lord of the Dance sculpture (circa 970 CE), India, Asia Society, New York
Gray Schist Relief Triad of Buddha Sakyamuni with Bodhisattvas (circa 3rd-4th century CE), Gandhara | Christie's New York, 2020 | Sold: US$6,630,000
As a young man, de Marteau stumbled upon Hindu and Buddhist art – which was to become his lifelong passion while he was on an extended trip through the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. A collection accumulated throughout 50 years, he became a distinguished art dealer of Tibetan, Nepalese, Indian and Southeast Asian art.
In 1969, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York acquired an ancient Indian Buddha Offering Protection sculpture from his Collection. Originating from an illustrious era of Buddhist art, this sculpture is one of the most iconic pieces in the Museum. Prominent art collector, John D. Rockefeller III, also obtained a sculpture from de Marteau – a famous Shiva as Lord of Dance sculpture. It was later part of the Asia Society, New York Collection.
In 1973, an exquisite, ancient Greco-Buddhist stele with five figures appeared in the Oriental Art magazine, where enthusiastic scholastic debate surrounding the chronology and interpretations of Gandharan inscriptions quickly ensued. Then, in 2020, this artwork fetched US$6.6 million dollars at Christie's New York – which set an auction record for a Gandharan artwork.
The sale's three priciest lots are mentioned further below.
Lot 26 | Schist Figure of Buddha | Gandhara
Created during 3rd-4th century CE
Height: 147.5 cm
Provenance:
- With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s
Estimate: €500,000 – 700,000
Hammer Price: €450,000
Sold: €567,375 (around US$592,780)
The bidding started at €280,000 euros. After more than five bids, the hammer was dropped at €450,000 euros. The winning bid was by an online bidder with paddle number 6108. In the end, it realised €567,375 (around US$592,780 dollars) with buyer's premium.
According to numerous publications on Gandharan art, de Marteau was known for his expertise in Gandharan sculpture. His connoisseurship is epitomised by this almost life-size Buddha sculpture, which excels for its naturalism, grace and contemplative attitude.
Located in modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan, the ancient region of Gandhara was home to a vibrant, cosmopolitan civilisation – situated at the crossroads of international trade networks linking South and Central Asia, China and the Mediterranean.
This present Buddha sculpture blends Buddhist iconography and Greco-Roman aesthetic tradition of naturalism. Realistically depicted with a contrapposto stance, where the figure’s right knee lightly bends, and more weight is placed on his left leg – imbuing movement within the stone carver’s creation. He conveys the Buddha's supple physique – suggested under the sweeping pleats of the monastic robe.
In addition to this, physiological features are added to distinguish an enlightened being. A circular dot in the middle of his brow represents how the Buddha emits a ray of light to illuminate distant worlds. Wavy hair and a cranial protuberance are depicted to symbolise a variety of magical powers. Another prominent symbol of his enlightened consciousness is the large halo backing his head and shoulders.
Lot 30 | Copper Alloy Figure of Kapaladhara Hevajra | India
Created during 12th century
Height: 14.7 cm
Provenance:
- With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s
Estimate: €120,000 – 160,000
Hammer Price: €260,000
Sold: €327,975 (around US$342,600)
The bidding commenced at €85,000 euros. After more than 20 bids, the hammer was dropped at €260,000 euros. The winning bid was by Dessa Goddard, Senior Specialist of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department, San Francisco; with paddle number 2808. In the end, it fetched €327,975 euros (around US$342,600 dollars) with buyer’s premium.
Created during the 11th to 12th centuries in Northeastern India, the birthplace of Tantric Buddhism, this sculpture is among the earlier surviving representations of Kapaladhara Hevajrain bronze. Since most Pala sculptures that remained in India were lost or buried during Muslim invasions of the early 13th century, this present work's unencrusted surface and buttery patina almost certainly indicate that it was brought to Tibet soon after its creation – during a period known for Tibet's apprenticeship of Indian Buddhism. The application of cold gold, red, black, and white pigments to the deities' faces and hair was also ritually performed in Tibet.
The refined details and sensuous modelling are typical of exquisite bronzes from the late Pala period – achieving impressive complexity of multiarmed, multiheaded and multifigured arrangements within a single casting. Each of Hevajra's eight faces is afforded crisp, handsome features – with six behind the main face surveying different directions, and an additional face emerging from his flaming hair under the finial.
Lot 25 | Schist Head of Buddha | Gandhara
Created during 3rd-4th century CE
Height: 48 cm
Provenance:
- With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s
Estimate: €150,000 – 200,000
Hammer Price: €220,000
Sold: €277,575 (around US$289,900)
The auctioneer started the bidding at €95,000 euros. After more than 15 bids, the hammer was dropped at €220,000 euros. The winning bid was by Julia Hu, Managing Director, Asia; with paddle number 1609. In the end, it fetched €277,575 euros (around US$289,900 dollars) with buyer’s premium.
This present lot represents the amalgamation of Buddhist concepts and Greco-Roman aesthetics that flourished in the ancient region of Gandhara.
In addition to this, physical features are added to distinguish an enlightened being. A circular dot in the middle of his brow represents how the Buddha emits a ray of light to illuminate distant worlds. Wavy hair and a cranial protuberance are depicted to symbolise a variety of magical powers.
Other highlight lots:
Lot 52 | Gilt Copper Alloy Triad of Padmasambhava and his consorts, Mandarava and Yeshe Tsogyal | Tibet
Created during circa 17th century
Height: 24 cm
Provenance
- With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s
Estimate: €100,000 – 150,000
Hammer Price: €200,000
Sold: €252,375 (around US$263,600)
Lot 44 | Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Vajradhara | Tibet
Created during 14th century
Height: 22.5 cm
Provenance:
- With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s
Estimate: €80,000 – 120,000
Hammer Price: €170,000
Sold: €214,575 (around US$224,100)
Lot 32 | Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Manjushri | Nepal
Created during 14th century
Height: 18 cm
Provenance:
- With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s
Estimate: €50,000 – 70,000
Hammer Price: €110,000
Sold: €138,975 (around US$145,100)
Lot 22 | Schist Atlas Figure in the form of Hercules | Gandhara
Created during 2nd-3rd century CE
Height: 51 cm
Provenance:
- With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s
Estimate: €80,000 – 120,000
Hammer Price: €88,000
Sold: €111,255 (around US$116,200)
Auction Details:
Auction House: Bonhams Paris
Sale: The Claude de Marteau Collection, Part I
Date and Time: 14 June 2022
Number of lots: 64
Sold: 62
Unsold: 2
Sale Rate: 96.8%
Sale Total: €3,494,247 (around US$3.6 million)