A BONE FIGURE OF PANJARANATA MAHAKALA


TIBET, 15TH CENTURYHimalayan Art Resources item no.61670 3 cm (1 1/4 in.) high
|西藏 十五世纪 骨雕寶帳大黑天像Panjaranata is a mahakala with two arms that protects the Hevajra Tantras. This finely carved figure depicts his classic appearance, squatting over an ignorant human while holding the curved knife and skullcup, common to most mahakalas, and Panjaranata's distinguishing ghandi stick, symbolizing his vow to protect Buddhism. Although the sculpture can be wrapped in a clenched fist, it exhibits Panjaranata's dominance no less than any other. The complex details in such small scale exhibits the carver's technical virtuosity. Based on the deity's facial type, broad body, and sparse garments, the figure can be dated to around the 15th century, compared with an ivory roundel in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (2003.495).ProvenanceRobert Bouatta, London, 2001