A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF MAHAKALA CHATURMUKHA


TIBET, 18TH CENTURYHimalayan Art Resources item no.61647 16.5 cm (6 1/2 in.) high
|西藏 十八世紀 四面大黑天銅像This very rare mahakala is connected with the Guhyasamaja Tantra. This specific representation of Chaturmukha ('Four-faced') Mahakala is known as the Accomplishment. Never shown to the uninitiated, the Sakya believe him so potent that they created the figure of Brahmarupa Mahakala to disguise Chaturmukha Mahakala. He can have a range of functions including increasing long-life, wealth, and power.The sculpture's flat lotus base and prone figures are similar to a Hayagriva published in Tibetan Statues, The Complete Collection of Treasure in the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2008, p.198, no.189. Also compare Rehol, Buddhist Art from Rehol, Taipei, 1999, p.97, no.29; and Bonhams, Hong Kong, 27 November 2014, lot 138. Notable figural similarities can be found on a Nepalese Bhairava dated 1754 (Pal, Art of Nepal, Los Angeles, 1985, p.128, no.S56).ProvenancePeter Fussel, London, 1969/70