十二世紀 東印度帕拉鎏金銅錯銀作明佛母坐像

喜瑪拉雅藝術資源網編號68321

阿什莫林博物館，牛津，2002-2005年借展
《Arte Buddhista Tibetana: Dei e Demoni dell' Himalaya》，Palazzo Bricherasio，都靈，2004年6-9月
魯賓藝術博物館紐約，2005-2017年借展
《Casting the Divine: Sculptures of the Nyingjei Lam Collection》，魯賓藝術博物館，紐約，2012-2013年

Good overall condition. Some wear to gilding throughout, and traces of polychrome to the hair. Some bending to the arrow in proper right secondary hand, and also to the bow in proper left secondary hand. 1mm casting flaw at back.
"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."

本尊雅緻精巧作明佛母乃觀世音菩薩化身，別稱咕嚕咕咧佛母，屬懷攝與守戒之尊，亦被視為二十一度母之紅色度母化現。本尊佛母貌如妙齡十六少女，代表調伏四魔，降伏煩惱情執。藏傳佛教之度母源於印度，十一世紀經印度上師阿底峽尊者傳入藏地。

本尊佛母，特徵顯見東印度帕拉王朝風格。帕拉造型繁複、裝飾華麗，於十二世紀達至鼎盛。本品體幅雖小，但工藝嫻熟精妙，其身姿婀娜優美、寶飾繁縟；花葉紋細緻奇巧，通身錯銀。

本尊鎏金光彩照人、包漿厚潤。佛母面相柔和，慈目朝上凝視，雙眼、額、項鍊鑲嵌銀。辮髮盤起作高髻，中心飾蓮花苞，頭戴寶冠，以飾帶固定於頭後。右第一手施與願印，右第二手執（紅烏巴拉花）箭作射勢；左第一手持蓮花，左第二手張（紅烏巴拉花）弓。

參考一尊十二世紀西藏度母造像，年代稍早，體姿優美、首飾身佩、薄蓮座，可與本尊相比，見 Susan L. Huntington 及 John C. Huntington，《Leaves from the Bodhi Tree: The Art of Pala India (Eighteenth-Twelfth Centuries) and Its International Legacy》，西雅圖，1990年，圖127-128。本尊之蓮座微傾，蓮花瓣寬，可比較一件同年代蓮座連階梯台座，出處同上，圖151。再有另一件十二世紀仿帕拉王朝時期造像台座，載於烏爾裡希．馮．施羅德，《Indo-Tibetan Bronzes》，香港，1981年，頁282，編號69A。