At the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, Bonhams is pleased to present the private collection of Asian art champion Jules Speelman, which will be exhibited in five locations across Asia from March to April.
Spanning nearly 1,000 years, this collection presents the best works of Buddhist art from Nepal and the Central Plains, and has attracted wide attention since its debut at Asia Week in New York last September. Spelman is renowned for his personal treasures, which are of exceptional quality. The auction will take place on 11 June at Bonhams Paris.
With this release, I have extremely complex thoughts: how will the market perceive my collection over the years? Can one necessarily recognize the artistic height of this collection? I'm not sure, but that's exactly what I'm eager to know. The title of this auction has many meanings, the word "devotion" represents my love and devotion to the collection, and the fact that these Buddha statues have been sacred and worshipped for centuries. —Spelman.
Asaph Hyman, Global Head of Chinese Antiques, said: "Spelman is one of the world's most revered Chinese and Asian antiques dealers for his eye for the finest artworks. This collection is the perfect embodiment of his life's rich experience, insight and passion for art. ”
Global Head of Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art.
Edward Wilkinson said: "The quality of this collection is unparalleled, and the craftsmanship and aesthetics are equally remarkable, including the Himalayan weights. It is an honor to be able to present such a huge collection to the majority of collectors. ”
Lot 8 silver partially gilt and bronze gilt statue of the Buddha Mother in Tibet, c. 17th century.
High 172 cm.
Estimate: €600,000 800,000.
Bibliography: Amy Heller, "Tibetan Art: Tracing the Development of Spiritual Ideas and Art in Tibet, 600-2000 b.."c.1999, p. 197, no. 105
Meinrad Maria Grewenig and Eberhard Rist, eds., Buddha: 2000 Years of Buddhist Art, 232 Masterpieces, Volklingen, 2016, p. 350, no. 148
Exhibition: Buddhism: 2000 Years of Buddhism Art, 232 Masterpieces, Völklingen, June 24, 2016 – February 19, 2017.
This extraordinary statue made in the 17th century, from the middle of the **, presents the beautiful image of the Buddha Mother with three sides and eight arms.
Her ** eyes gaze downwards to meet the gaze of the believer; The right side of the face is serene and serene, and the eyes are equally downcast; The left side of his face is angry and powerful, his fangs are exposed, and his eyes are wide with rage.
In the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, people pray for the Buddha's mother to attain longevity, purification, and the accumulation of good fortune. The body of the goddess is white, and this image is made of silver, which is gorgeous and clean. This cool metal contrasts with the warm gilt of the base, backlight and ornaments, as well as the bright tones of turquoise that embellishes the jewels, creating a striking aesthetic effect.
Because silver is a rarer and more expensive metal, it is not uncommon for silver statues to be found in Tibet. Another example of silver statue is a 17th-century Buddhist goddess statue in the Bodhisattva Tao Collection. This eight-armed statue of the Bodhisattva is similar to the statue of the Buddha's mother, with slender limbs that gracefully wrap around the torso. The lotus base, backlighting, and other details of the Buddha Mother are very similar to a 17th-century statue of the Mother Buddha at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (2007).75a, b）。
The features of the Spelman Collection can also be seen in a famous workshop connected to the Tashilhunpo Monastery in central Shigatse. In fact, the backlit flame and lotus pedestal surrounding the Mother of the Buddha are identical to the 17th-century statue of the Buddha in the Claude de Matu Collection, which bears an inscription confirming its connection to the Tashilhunpo workshop.
The workshop, known as Bkra Shis Skyid Tshal, was founded during the reign of the 4th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen (1567-1662), next to Tashilhunpo Monastery. The workshop aims to train exceptional people in the art of sculpture, painting, architecture, textiles and craftsmanship.
Several of the published statues bear the inscription "Bkra Shis Li Ma" (Tashilhunma), which has recently been interpreted to have been made by this workshop very close to Tashilhunpo Monastery. The literal translation of the word "Tashirma" is "auspicious metal", but as Luo Wenhua pointed out, its most specific meaning is the Tashki colored bronze statue. —Jane Casey, Art Historian."
Lot 12 bronze gilt King Kong holding the total statue.
Nepal Mara dynasty early XIV century.
High 425 cm.
Estimate: €600,000 800,000.
Bibliography: Meinrad Maria Grewenig and Eberhard Rist, eds., Buddha: 2000 Years of Buddhist Art, 232 Masterpieces, Verklingen, 2016, p. 336, no. 141
Exhibition: "Buddha: 2000 Years of Buddhist Art, 232 Masterpieces", Verklingen, June 24, 2016 – February 19, 2017.
*: Private collection in Germany.
Christie's, New York, 22 March 2000, lot 73
Vajrayāna, as the final stage in the development of Buddhism, created numerous deities according to different sects and sometimes even different temples. In addition to the pantheon inherited from the Indian tradition, there are also many deities or other images added to mark various complex and varied iconographic features. These figures appear in mystical rituals and carry moral or philosophical significance.
Although the relative importance of the deities and the hierarchy of their lineage sometimes vary from one religion to another. At the top of them, however, there is a supreme Buddha whose essence is the essence of all Buddhas.
The image presented here is that of the Vajra Assembrance, above the Sakya and the monks of the various sects. With his hands crossed over his chest, he holds two symbolic instruments of the deity: the vajra and the vajra bell. The former is a diamond-like scepter. The gemstone is pure, sparkling and incorrosible, and it is easy to see why Tantric Buddhism is so passionate about it. The deity's legs are closely crossed, like in a yoga pose.
The faces of the deities are characteristic of Nepalese statues. As described, its face is young and handsome, with juvenile features, including the "beautiful folds" indicated by a few thin lines around its neck. There was a shallow mark on the chin, and the corners of the mouth were slightly raised, containing a smile. The eyebrows are large arcs, smooth and comfortable, and the bottom is small apricot eyes. The white forehead is a rectangular piece of turquoise, which highlights the dignity of the gods.
Given its size, the statue may have been enshrined in a small temple. In the Kathmandu Valley, such temples are usually located at the end of the monastery courtyard. Rich copper deposits along the river valley have led to the development of a variety of metal crafts over the centuries, including the city of Patan.
Despite being part of the Buddhist branch, the coppersmiths were able to meet the different religious and iconographic requirements of the many donors. Their exquisite and extraordinary skills have created the popularity of their works, and their far-reaching influence has reached as far as **, and even reached Beijing since the thirteenth century. His impeccable gilding of mercury alloys and frequent and skillful gem-setting give his creations a spectacular and brilliant look. Today, one can only imagine how these statues were placed in the flickering light of butter lamps in temples and Buddhist halls, shining brightly and solemnly in the space of that time. —Art historian Gilles Béguin".
Born into a family of antique dealers, Spelman's family business dates back to the Netherlands in the 19th century, and his great-grandparents expanded into the English market in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the beginning, A&J Speelman dealt in European porcelain, silverware, tapestries, furniture, as well as Chinese porcelain and fine artefacts. In 1964, Spelman took the helm of the family with his father, Alfred, and shifted his focus to Asia. Today, A&J Speelman is recognized as one of Asia's leading antiques dealers, specialising in 2,000 years of statues and antiques.