A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF PADMAPANI, LICCHAVI REVIVAL Nepal, 17^th century. Gracefully cast seated in lalitasana on a double lotus base, the right foot supported by a beaded lotus dais. Clad in a close-fitting dhoti and sash neatly incised with flowers and foliage, the latter a hallmark of the Licchavi revival in Nepal, the left hand holding a lotus stem coming to full bloom at the shoulder. The serene face with heavy-lidded eyes and full lips, the hair pulled up into a high chignon with locks escaping over the shoulders, secured by a beaded and floral headdress, backed by a foliate-incised mandorla.

Provenance: A & J Speelman Oriental Art, London, United Kingdom. A Hungarian collector, acquired from the above.
Condition: Very good condition with extensive wear to gilt, some casting flaws, few small losses, nicks and dents, remnants of pigment. The base unsealed.

Weight: 770.0 g
Dimensions: Height 14.4 cm

The present sculpture depicts Padmapani, identifiable by the lotus stalk held at the left shoulder. Cast in lustrous copper alloy, the figure is defined by flowing lines and soft features, and clearly inspired by the sensitivity of modeling and graceful beauty of Licchavi and Transitional period sculpture. Originating in Northern Bihar, the Licchavi aesthetic was deeply rooted in North Indian artistic traditions. Characterized by soft rounded modeling and languid forms, the Sarnath style of sculpture from the Gupta period had an immense influence on Nepalese art. Faint traces of blue pigment in the hair suggest that this bronze may have been absorbed into a Tibetan collection at some point in its history.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related gilt copper alloy figure of Ratnapani, Licchavi period, dated 10^th century, in the collection of the Norton Simon Museum, accession number F.1972.45.13.S. Note the noticeable lack of incised flowers and foliage as well as the similarities in the alloy, the gilt, the design of the base, the posture of the figure and the jewelry.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 21 March 2012, lot 835
Price: USD 86,500 or approx. EUR 110,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Gilt Bronze Figure of Padmapani, Nepal, Licchavi Revival Style, 17^th Century
Expert remark: Compare the subject, the design of the base, and the neatly incised flowers and foliage. Note the larger size of 24.8 cm.



利察維王朝鎏金合金銅蓮華手菩薩
尼泊爾，十七世紀。菩薩以休閑姿坐於蓮花座上，右腳下垂踩在小蓮花台上。初月眉，雙眼微垂，擴鼻小嘴，臉部輪廓飽滿，雙耳以大環型耳環為裝飾，兩側黑髮垂肩，胸前飾以多寶項鍊。腰帶上裝飾著花朵和樹葉，後者是尼泊爾利察維王朝復興時期的標誌，左手自然下垂，按在蓮座上，握著曲延而上的蓮花莖，右手施予願印。後有光背。

來源：英國倫敦A & J Speelman Oriental Art收藏，匈牙利藏家購於上述收藏。
品相：狀況極好，鎏金大面積磨損，有鑄造缺陷，小缺損，有刻痕和凹痕、顏料殘留。底座開封。

重量：770.0 克
尺寸：高14.4 厘米

此造像描繪了蓮花生大士，特徵是其左肩上的蓮花莖。銅合金鑄造，線條流暢，五官柔和，明顯受到利察維王朝和過渡時期造像風格的啟發。利察維美學起源於北比哈爾邦，深深植根於北印度的藝術傳統。以其柔和的圓形造型和慵懶的形式為特徵，笈多時期的鹿野苑雕塑風格對尼泊爾藝術產生了巨大的影響。頭髮中微弱的藍色痕跡表明，此銅造像可能在某時期在西藏收藏中。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近十世紀利察維王朝鎏金合金Ratnapani銅像，收藏於 Norton Simon 博物館，編號F.1972.45.13.S。請注意此像明顯沒有雕花和葉子，但相似的合金、鎏金、底座的設計、姿勢和鑲嵌珠寶。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2012年3月21日，lot 835
價格：USD 86,500（相當於今日EUR 110,500）
描述：十七世紀利察維王朝風格鎏金銅蓮華手菩薩
專家評論：比較主題、底座設計，以及雕花和葉子。請注意尺寸較大 (24.8厘米)。