Moments ago at Bonhams Hong Kong sale of Images of Devotion, an Early 15th Century Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Virupaksha from Densatil Monastery in Central Tibet sold for a whooping price at HK$37,964,000. A top lot of the sale, it carried an estimate of HK$35-55million. The entire sale achieved a total of HK$75million.
This magnificent figure of Virupaksha, the Buddhist Guardian of the West, would have stood before one of the eight tashi gomang stupas of Densatil monastery, one of the great artistic wonders of Tibet. The tallest documented Densatil divine king, this sculpture was made at the peak of the order’s sculptural tradition, when the monastery was most prosperous and the noble clan officiating over it was at the height of its power, ruling Central Tibet in the wake of the Yuan dynasty. As the sole Heavenly King remaining in private hands, this remarkable example is the grandest freestanding Densatil sculpture available in the market. Only four of these guardians, including this Virupaksha, have survived. The three others constitute highlights of world-renowned museum collections, including The Capital Museum in Beijing, the Palace Museum in Taipei, and Musée Guimet in Paris.
Edward Wilkinson, Global Head of Himalayan, Indian and Southeast Asian Art at Bonhams, commented: “As the only guardian from Densatil in private hands, as well as the largest and most engaging sculpture from Densatil, this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure one of the greatest icons of Tibetan Art. We are therefore thrilled, but not surprised, that it fetched the top price it deserves.”
Other notable highlights include:
Sold for HK$8,894,000
Estimate: HK$4,500,000-6,500,000
Sold for HK$6,100,000
Estimate: HK$2,000,000-3,000,000
For full sale results, please click here: Bonhams : Images of Devotion