Religious treasures from esteemed Belgian Collector to star in Paris sale

During this Spring season, a range of Buddhist and Hindu treasures will feature in The Claude de Marteau Collection Sale at Bonhams Paris.

An ancient Greco-Buddhist sculpture will be the leading lot, which is estimated between €500,000 and 700,000 euros (around US$534,000 and 748,000 dollars). De Marteau, a reputable Belgian art dealer and connoisseur during the 20th century, possessed a wide collection created over a period of 1,500 years and from across Asia.

The auction is part of two sales – the first part will take place on 14 June in Paris, while the second part will be in Hong Kong in October 2022.


Claude de Marteau

Buddha Offering Protection sculpture (6th-7th century CE), India | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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.


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




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


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 33 | Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Sakyamuni Buddha | Nepal

Created during 13th-14th century
Height: 31.5 cm
Provenance:

  • With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s

Estimate: €300,000 – 500,000


This Buddha sculpture is one of a handful of large bronzes attributed to the Khasa-Malla Kingdom – a territory comprised parts of Nepal and Tibet between the 12th and 14th centuries. The juxtaposition of this Buddha's warm demeanour and his robust physique strikes a balance conveying benign, yet supreme authority.

Chief among traits that can identify a work from the Khasa-Malla Kingdom is the representation of the joints of each finger – displayed in this sculpture's right hand, lowered in the gesture of calling the Earth to witness. The rice-grain pattern – an inlaid turquoise circular dot found at the forehead has a teardrop shape, and the way his eyebrows end at the nasal bridge – are features found among Khasa-Malla sculptures.

Alongside these traits, numerous features of this present sculpture also show inspiration from these Nepalese and Tibetan regions – including thick beading running along the robe's rice-grain hemline, floral medallions tucked behind the Buddha's ears, his beaked nose, and the fishtail sash draped over his left shoulder.



Lot 19 | Copper Alloy Figure of Maitreya | India

Created during circa 7th century CE
Height: 19.8 cm
Provenance:

  • With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s

Estimate: €180,000 – 240,000


One of de Marteau's prized possessions for more than 40 years, this present figure shows sculptural characteristics from the Swat Valley – located in modern-day Pakistan, and in the cultural boundaries of the ancient Gandharan Buddhist civilisation.

Before the 2nd century CE, many monastic sites flourished despite various invasions in later periods. A school of Buddhist sculptures incorporated artistic elements – where the Swat bronzes’ cosmopolitan aesthetic is reflected in this present sculpture.

While much of the Gandharan taste for Greco-Roman realism is lost; the long hair, commanding posture and pleated drapery can attribute back to some of Gandharan art's iconographies. Meanwhile, the craftsman who created this bronze probably also drew extensively from the Gupta Empire (4th-6th century CE) – considered the Golden Age of Indian art. Portrayed with a fleshy countenance, it is also depicted with features – including a large-beaded necklace, bare chest, slender waist, lightweight lower garment, floral medallion armbands and broad unfurling lotus petals.


Other highlight lots:


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


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


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


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


Lot 41 | Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of a Lama | Tibet

Created during 15th century
Height: 22 cm
Provenance:

  • With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s

Estimate: €80,000 – 120,000


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


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


Lot 15 | Sandstone Stele of Surya | India 

Created during circa 10th century 
Height: 76.2 cm 
Provenance: 

  • With Claude de Marteau, New York, by 1967
  • Richard B. Gump, San Francisco
  • Sotheby's, New York, 6 October 1990, Lot 290

Estimate: €60,000 – 80,000


Auction Details:

Auction House: Bonhams Paris
Sale: The Claude de Marteau Collection, Part I
Date and Time: 14 June 2022 | 2pm (Paris local time)
Number of lots: 64