 BRONZE MODEL OF A STUPA Current and Past Exhibitions
Catalogue no. 44.BRONZE MODEL OF A STUPA.BURMA.ARAKAN KINGDOM.16TH – 17TH CENTURY.H. 25 CMS, 9 ¾ INS.An unusual bronze model of a four-sided stupa with an elegant, tapering shape ascending to a lotus-bud finial, a Buddha at each of the cardinal points seated with his right hand lowered in bhumisparsimudra. The Arakanese King Min-Bin and his son Min-hpa-laung (1571-93) introduced a golden age of temple construction at their capital, Mrauk-U, the most notable being the Shittaung pagoda or ‘Shrine of Eight Thousand Images’. Models of stupas and shrines were placed in relic chambers during consecration ceremonies, while others were made as objects for devotion. For a discussion of model stupas from Arakan, including three related examples, see pages 160 and 161 in P. Gutman, Burma’s Lost Kingdoms: Splendours of Arakan, Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2001.
|  Bronze head of the Buddha
2. Bronze head of the Buddha.Burma, Pagan, circa. 12th century.H. 17 cms, 6 ¾ ins.Provenance: Private English collection.Reference: See no. 15 in P. Strachan, Pagan: Art and Architecture of Old Burma,Kiscadale Publications, 1989.
|  Bronze figure of Buddha
3. Bronze figure of Buddha seated in bhumisparsimudra.Burma, Mandalay period, 19th century.H. 23.5 cms, 9 1/4 ins.Provenance: Private English collection.Reference: See no. 8 in J. Lowry, Burmese Art, London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1974.
|  Bronze figure of a seated Buddha
A brownish-green patinated bronze figure of the Buddha, seated in bhumisparsimudra (the gesture of 'calling the earth to witness')upon a raised double pedestal.Height: (including flame finial) 19 ins, 49 cm.Knee-to-Knee: 9 1/2 ins, 25 cm.Thai, U-Thong period, 15th/16th century.
|  BRONZE ELEPHANT BELL
G318.1 BRONZE ELEPHANT BELL.Khmer, Angkor Period, Bayon Style.Late 12th – early 13th Century.Height: 7 ½ ins, 19 cms.A bronze elephant bell, decorated on the top in relief with lotus motifs and with two stylish triangular cusps with decorative borders at the bottom, an open section with a naga finial on each side beneath two prominent ribs carved with concentric rings; a bronze pellet inside each bell serving as a rattle as the elephant walks. Bells of this type are seen on the bas-reliefs of temples at Angkor, hung round the necks of elephant, usually war elephants. For similar examples of elephant bells, please see nos. 129a and b in E.C. Bunker and D. Latchford, Adoration and Glory: the Golden Age of Khmer Art, Chicago, 2004 and p. 153 in M. Giteau and D. Guéret, Khmer Art, Paris, 1997.
|  BRONZE ELEPHANT BELL
G318.2 BRONZE ELEPHANT BELL.Khmer, Angkor Period, Bayon Style. Late 12th – early 13th Century.Height: 7 ½ ins, 19 cms.A bronze elephant bell, decorated on the top in relief with lotus motifs and with two stylish triangular cusps with decorative borders at the bottom, an open section with a naga finial on each side beneath two prominent ribs carved with concentric rings; a bronze pellet inside each bell serving as a rattle as the elephant walks.Bells of this type are seen on the bas-reliefs of temples at Angkor, hung round the necks of elephant, usually war elephants. For similar examples of elephant bells, please see nos. 129a and b in E.C. Bunker and D. Latchford, Adoration and Glory: the Golden Age of Khmer Art, Chicago, 2004 and p. 153 in M. Giteau and D. Guéret, Khmer Art, Paris, 1997.
|  Bronze comb decorated with mythical beasts Current and Past Exhibitions
17. Bronze comb decorated with mythical beasts. China, Eastern Zhou, 770-221 BC.H. 8.7 cms, 3 3/8 ins.Provenance: Private English Collection.Reference: See cat. No. 14, p. 93, in J. M. White and E. C. Bunker, Adornment for Eternity: Status and Rank in Chinese Ornament, Denver Art Museum, 1994.
|  BRONZE BUDDHA Current and Past Exhibitions
27 BRONZE BUDDHA.THAILAND.MON-DVARAVATI STYLE.8TH - 9TH CENTURY .H. 33 CMS, 13 INS.A large and important bronze figure of a standing Buddha, both hands forming vitarka (teaching)-mudra, the robe covering both shoulders and falling from the wrist to follow the contours of the body down to a typical U-shaped hem, the undergarments visible beneath, with long earlobes, a narrow face, downcast eyes and lips forming a slight smile, the hair arranged in tight curls rising to a conical usnisha. The Mon-Dvaravati kingdom, which flourished from the sixth through tenth centuries AD, was established when the Mons of Burma migrated south into Siam. They became ensconced in the river basins of Central Thailand – their main centres at Nakhon Pathom, Lopburi, U-Thong and Kubua - and ruled the area for four centuries. Mon-Dvaravati art finds its origins in the Gupta art of India; characterised by curled hair, full lips and a small waist. The Mon adaptation of the Gupta style incorporates both Hindu and (Theravada) Buddhist iconography. The great 110cm bronze Buddha in the National Museum, Bangkok, is similar to this example - see no. 15 in R. Ringis (ed.), Treasures from the National Museum, Bangkok, Bangkok: National Museum Volunteers Group, 1987. For another example see fig. 59 (cat. no. 9) in Hiram W. Woodward, The Sacred Sculpture of Thailand. The Alexander B. Griswold Collection, Baltimore: Walters Art Gallery, 1997.Provenance: Private English Collection.Purchased from Spink and Son Ltd in July 1995.
|  BLUE GLAZED POTTERY JAR AND COVER Current and Past Exhibitions
6 BLUE GLAZED POTTERY JAR AND COVER.CHINA, HENAN AREA.TANG DYNASTY, 618 - 907 AD.H. 15.5 CMS, 6 1/8 INS. A blue-glazed pottery jar and cover of well-rounded ovoid form with a flared neck and a flat foot, the shaped cover with pointed knop, the earthenware body covered in a deep cobalt-blue glaze pooling around the base, the inside rim glazed blue, the interior thinly applied with a cream coloured glaze.The intense blue of this vessel derives from cobalt, imported from Persia and introduced to China in the 8th century. These glazes were sometimes applied over a white slip to enhance the purity and brilliance of the colours.For an identical vase with a similarly rich cobalt glaze in the Collection of the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, see plate 133, page 182 in The Silk Road and The World of Xuanzong, Exhibition catalogue, Nara Prefectural Museum of Art, June 12 - August 8, 1999. Another vase decorated with a green glaze is illustrated as plate 226, page 138 in R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, Volume One, Azimuth Editions, 1994. Age verified by Oxford thermoluminescence test, certificate no. C199t80.Provenance: From the collection of a titled English lady. Purchased from Spink and Son Ltd - illustrated as catalogue no. 38 in Treasures from the Silk Road: Devotion, Conquest and Trade along Asia’s highways, Spink, 1999.
|  Blackstone figure of Vishnu atop Garuda Current and Past Exhibitions
15. Blackstone figure of Vishnu atop Garuda.Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, circa 16th century. H. (excl. tang) 49 cms, 19 1/2 ins.Reference: no. 97 in S. & J. Huntington, Leaves from the Bodhi Tree: The Art of Pala India and Its International Legacy, Dayton Art Institute, 1990.
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