A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF MAHAKALA NEPAL, 17TH CENTURY Himalayan Art Resources item no. 207034 14 cm (5 1/2 in.) high Footnotes: 尼泊爾 十七世紀 銅鎏金大黑天像 Provenance Private Collection, USA John and Karina Stewart Collection, since 2017 Mahakala, a major protective deity (Dharmapala) of the Buddhist pantheon, stands on the elephant-headed Vinayaka. He wears the elaborate ornaments of a Dharmapala and a flayed elephant skin emphasizing his formidable character, and is surrounded by a flame aureole, reinforcing his wrathful and protective nature. Vinayaka, or Ganesha, was incorporated into the Buddhist pantheon as a powerful but potentially obstructive deity. In tantric Buddhist imagery, he is frequently shown being subdued by Mahakala, symbolizing Mahakala's role as a protector who removes hindrances and safeguards the Buddhist path. A 15th-century example of the subject was sold in Sotheby's, New York, 17 September 2024, lot 358. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing