Consigned by an Asian collector, it had been published in Japan, 1990, and was attractively estimated at $60,000-80,000. An American collector in the room (new to the department) paid $320,000 (£228,570) for ownership underbid in the room and on the telephone. Other notable entries included a gilt bronze figure of Tara, Nepal, 11/12th century, that shared the top slot. It was one of several works from a private Asian consignment to bring strong prices.
Few Himalayan bronzes can boast
pre-WW1 provenances, but this work can be traced to the Henry Getty collection, Paris, published in 1914.
It fetched $320,000 (£228,570) from a private European buyer.
Bodhisattva’s body satisfies
The show stopper at Christie’s Indian and Southeast auction on October 17 was this sublime grey schist Gandharan bodhisattva, 2/3rd century. The drapes of the robes falling about his body contrast with his powerfully carved bare chest, as he stands gazing ahead with a fixed stare.
