A LARGE AND FINELY CAST GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF VAISHRAVANA MING DYNASTY

cast standing with his left hand raised holding a small vessel, wearing elaborate chain-mail armour with monster mask epaulets, a large monster mask plaque at his waist and a celestial scarf billowing about his shoulders, the crowned head with ferocious expression, later rockwork wood base

This finely cast bronze is in good condition, but has some areas of rubbing to the gilding to the face, hands and armour. The stupa held in his left hand is missing its upper section. The right hand sash above the right shoulder is missing and the end of the little finger to the right hand is missing.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This finely-cast figure can be identified by the small stupa in his left hand as Vaishravana ('He who is knowing', or 'He who hears everything in the kingdom'), the chief of the Lokapala and the guardian of the North and winter. The Lokapala, or Four Guardian Kings, guard the four cardinal points of the world and are the Protectors of the Buddhist Law. Vaishravana is the only one of the Four Guardian Kings to have been worshipped as an individual deity.

The sculpture has a dynamism and strength as befits the powerful Guardian King. His forceful expression is heightened by the beast-mask plaque on his waist and the skilfully rendered armour, while a sense of movement and vigour is captured through the billowing scarf, which represents his celestial nature. A closely related figure of slightly smaller size was sold at Christie's New York, 20^th September 2005, lot 146; and another larger figure was sold in our New York rooms, 24^th March 1998. Compare two larger figures wearing traditional armour in the Fuller Memorial Collection, Seattle Art Museum, illustrated by Hugo Munsterberg in Chinese Buddhist Bronzes, Tokyo, 1967, pls. 93 and 94; and a massive figure of this type from the Nitta Group Collection included in the exhibition The Crucible of Compassion and Wisdom, National Palace Museum, Taibei, 1987, pl. 120.