A GILT HARDWOOD MANUSCRIPT COVER, TIBET, 14TH CENTURY

A GILT HARDWOOD MANUSCRIPT COVER, TIBET, 14TH CENTURY
Finely carved in relief with a central Buddha seated in dhyanasana with his right hand lowered in bhumisparsha mudra, within a prabhamandala topped by Garuda and further with two snakes, two makaras, two rams, and two elephants, atop a stepped base with two snow lions.
Buddha is flanked by Manjushri to his right, with lotus blossoms at the shoulders supporting the sword and book, and the four-armed Shadakshari Avalokiteshvara to his left, each within a similar ornate niche topped by a kirtimukha atop a stepped plinth. All surrounded by thick swirling clouds and framed by a beaded band and petal border.
Provenance:
From a notable German private collection, assembled in the 1970s and 80s and partly acquired from Schoettle Ostasiatika.
Condition:
Good condition with old wear, expected age cracks, small nicks, light scratches, small losses, remnants of pigment on the back, extensive wear to gilt. The wood is with a rich, naturally grown patina.
Weight: 664.1 g
Dimensions: Size 38 cm x 15.2 cm
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related manuscript cover with three Buddhist figures, 71.4 x 26.7 cm, dated to the 14th century, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.86.345.12.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 25 March 2004, lot 72
Price: USD 22,705 or approx.
EUR 34,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved wood manuscript cover, Tibet, 15th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of carving, with similar triad, niches, and beaded band. Note the miniature figures carved between the niches and the larger size (73 x 23.4 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 19 March 2013, lot 358
Price: USD 27,500 or approx.
EUR 33,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A painted wood book cover with the Five Tathagatas, Tibet, 12th/13th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of carving, with similar clouds, niches, beaded band, and petal border. Note that the cover is carved with five figures and the larger size (71.1 cm).
西藏十四世紀鎏金木雕經書封面
西藏。矩形浮雕，中央佛祖釋迦牟尼坐蓮，右手結觸地印，後有光背，頂部有金翅鳥迦樓羅，還有兩條蛇、兩隻摩迦儸、兩隻公羊和兩隻大象，階梯底座上有兩隻雪獅。佛陀的右側是文殊菩薩，肩膀上有蓮花托著著寶劍和書籍，左側是四臂觀世音菩薩，每個佛龕內都有一個類似的華麗壁龕，頂部有一個階梯式底座。裝飾雲紋、串珠紋和花瓣邊框包圍。
來源：
德國知名私人收藏，於二十世紀七十年代和 八十年代建立，部分購自 Schoettle Ostasiatika藝廊。
品相：
狀況良好，有磨損、年代裂紋，小刻痕，輕微劃痕，背面有顏料殘留，鎏金嚴重磨損。木料具有細膩的包漿。
重量：664.1 克
尺寸：38 厘米 x 15.2 厘米
文獻比較：
比較一件非常相近的十四世紀鎏金木雕經書封面，71.4 x 26.7 厘米，收藏於洛杉磯郡藝術博物館，館藏編號M.86.345.12。
拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2004年3月25日，lot 72
價格：USD 22,705（相當於今日
EUR 34,500
）
描述：十五世紀西藏木雕經書封面
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形、雕刻風格，相似的壁龕和串珠帶。請注意壁龕中間有許多小像，以及尺寸較大 (73 x 23.4 厘米)。
拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2013年3月19日，lot 358
價格：USD 27,500（相當於今日
EUR 33,500
）
描述：十二至十三世紀西藏彩繪木雕五如來經書封面
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形、雕刻風格，相似的雲紋、壁龕和串珠帶。請注意此封面中間刻有五尊如來和尺寸較大 (71.1 厘米)。