Beschreibung:

Lot details Tibet, late 17th to 18th century. Boldly carved, the priest seated on a square base elaborately decorated with foliate designs in high relief below floral diaper, wearing a jacket tied at the waist, the sleeves deeply incised with folds, and a skirt with line and diaper decorations. He is adorned with prayer beads in a unique manner, with one around each ear, wrist, and shoulder. Provenance: A noted Hungarian private collector. Lempertz, Cologne, 11 December 2021, lot 39, bought-in at an estimate of EUR 30,000 and described as a “dignitary in the style of the Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje” dated 18th-19th century. Condition: Very good condition with some old wear, expected age cracks, few small nicks and losses, occasional light scratches. The wood with a superb, naturally grown patina and a soft polish resulting in an unctuous feel overall. Weight: 718.0 g Dimensions: Height 21.5 cm His face with an intense meditative expression marked by almond-shaped eyes with double-incised pupils below furrowed ridged brows. The finely incised hair pulled up into a low chignon, the hairstyle reminiscent of a lotus bud. Choying Dorje (1604–1674), the Tenth Karmapa, was head of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism and well known as an artist in the mediums of painting, metal casting, and carving. An eccentric figure within the history of Tibetan art, the Tenth Karmapa possessed a highly individual style, looking to a range of traditions for inspiration, including ancient metalwork from Kashmir and Swat. The present figure clearly shows his influence in the plasticity of the prayer beads, the deeply incised sleeve folds and line decorations to the skirt, and the unusual hairstyle. Several rhinoceros horn figural carvings by Choying Dorje are documented, including a Tara which he presented to the Tsang Khenchen, see I. Mengele, 'The Artist's Life' in The Black Hat Eccentric, Artistic Visions of the Tenth Karmapa, New York, 2013, pp. 33-63. The 10th Karmapa is also said to have carved the representation of the five first patriarchs of the Kagyu lineage in rhinoceros horn, see Lama Kunsang, et al, History of the Karmapas: The Odyssey of the Tibetan Masters with the Black Crown, Boulder, Colorado, 2012, page 148. Literature comparison: Compare a related ivory figure of Avalokiteshvara, attributed to Choying Dorje, with beaded jewelry that is similar to the present figure’s prominent prayer beads, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1972.123. Compare a related brass figure of Green Tara, attributed to Choying Dorje, with beaded and floral designs that are similar to the present figure’s prominent prayer beads, in the collection of the Rubin Museum of Art, object number C2005.16.3a-b. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 15 March 2017, lot 222 Price: USD 137,500 or approx. EUR 163,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze portrait of a Karmapa, Tibet, School of Choying Dorje, 17th century or later Expert remark: Compare the beaded decorations to the base and mandorla, which are similar to the prominent prayer beads of the present figure Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 15 March 2017, lot 223 Price: USD 225,000 or approx. EUR 268,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, attributed by inscription to the Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje, Eastern Tibet or Yunnan Province, 17th century Expert remark: Compare the chain-like ornament falling from each shoulder, which is remarkably similar to the prayer beads around the present figure’s shoulders 秋英多傑派木雕佛教僧人坐像 西藏，十七世紀末至十八世紀。木雕僧人坐在一個方形底座上，底座高浮雕的花卉葉狀圖案。僧人身穿一件外袍，衣紋褶皺清晰，僧人手持念珠。 來源：匈牙利知名私人收藏，2021年12月11日科隆Lempertz拍賣，lot 39，估價 EUR 30,000，描述為十八世紀“dignitary in the style of the Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje”（第十世噶瑪巴∙秋英多傑風格的貴族）。 品相：狀況極好，有一些磨損，預期的老化裂縫，小劃痕和缺損，局部有輕微劃痕。木料具有極好的自然生長的包漿，整體上給人一種