Himalayan Art Attract Buyers in New York, Selection of Works to be Shown in Hong Kong‏

Vasudeva, India, Kashmir, 9th century. Brass with silver inlay. Height: 11⅜ in (29 cm)

Visitors to Carlton Rochell’s gallery in the Fuller Building, New York, were fascinated by the exhibition of twenty-five works from Tibet, Nepal and India from a European private collection shown jointly with London dealer Rossi & Rossi from 11 to 25 September.  Six of these sold to American and European collectors, at prices ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. 

One of the most important pieces to find a buyer was a figure of Akshobya, the Transcendent Buddha, cast in bronze with pigment and silver inlay, from 13^th century  Tibet.  Two sculptures of Manjusri were sold, one dating from 8^th/9^th century Kashmir, depicting the Bodhisattva seated in lalitasana upon a waisted double-lotus base, and the other in the Esoteric form dating from the 12^th/13^th century, Pala Dynasty.  Other works acquired by private collectors were a 13^th century copper alloy figure of Indra from Nepal, where the deity is a highly important god in the Hindu pantheon, and a group of three figures from the same period each on an individual throne on a tall stepped base, with Shiva as Lakulisa in the centre, Brahma on his right and Vishnu on his left.  A ritual dagger or Purba, carved from ebony with ivory inlay, gilt and polychrome and dating from 15^th/16^th century Tibet also found a new home. 

Visitors to Rossi & Rossi’s stand at the 4^th Hong Kong International Art and Antiques Fair (HKIAAF) from Saturday 3 to Tuesday 6 October 2009 will have an opportunity to see ten of the serene pieces from this prestigious collection.  The works on view there include a powerful yet graceful figure of Vishnu, in his most supreme aspect or para, otherwise known as Vasudeva.  Dating from 9^th century Kashmir, the god is cast from brass with silver inlay and has a pair of attendant figures, while between his feet a diminutive earth goddess gazes up in adoration (price in the region of US$600,000).  Another refined bronze is a 14^th/15^th century figure of the buddha Vajradhara seated on a double lotus throne.  Probably the work of a Newari artist living in Tibet, it is priced in the region of US$500,000.

Rossi & Rossi at Hong Kong International Art Fair, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 3, 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, HONG KONG

Vajradhara, Tibet, 14th/15th Century. Gilt copper alloy. Height: 18in. (46cm.)