Ornement d'autel en cuivre doré Sino-tibetain, XVIIIE siècle

la base carrée supportant un stupa, orné sur chaque face de quatre couples de lions protecteurs du bouddhisme, son sommet surmonté du dharma, la roue de la loi à huit rayons symbolisant les huit enseignements du Bouddha, incrustée de turquoise et pierres dures et entourée de flammes

Collection Vérité, vente Hotel Drouot 18 octobre 2008, lot 79.

Several inlaid stones are missing (visible on the catalogue illustration), some expected wear, surface dirt, and green oxidization to the gilding, a dent near the border of the bulbuous top section of the stupa with an associated 3 cm thin crack in the gilt bronze, a few dents to the edges and the corners of the base, pitting and light scratches in places, more pronounced on the top of the base. The wheel itself is a little warped, The base is unsealed.
"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."

The Wheel of Law is one of the Eight Buddhist Emblems and represents the inexorable expansion of the Buddha's teachings.
This ornament was part of a set of eight, offered to temples as ex-voto and destined to decorate the altar between two ceremonies.
An identical gilt copper Wheel of Law emblem figures in the Palace Museum Collection, Taipei, is included in A special Exhibition of Buddhist Gilt Votive Objects, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1995, and illustrated in the catalogue, n° 10 (fig.1). See also the Wheel of Law emblem with an identical base but mother-of-pearl inlaid wheel illustrated, n°11.