Treasures from Mongolia: Buddhist Sculpture from the School of Zanabazar
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Treasures from Mongolia: Buddhist Sculpture from the School of Zanabazar, the first ever selling exhibition devoted to Mongolian sculpture, will be staged by Rossi & Rossi at Barbara Mathes Gallery, Fuller Building, 41 East 57th Street, New York, from Monday 28 March to Monday 4 April 2005. The exhibition comprises over twenty gilded pieces dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Formerly in a private collection, the sculptures are unpublished and have never before been exhibited. This exhibition offers an extraordinary opportunity to see a considerable number of outstanding Mongolian sculptures of various Buddhist subjects. The prices will range from $25,000 to over $150,000.
The gilded sculptures, made for both private devotion and for monasteries, are all in fine condition. They range in height from around 6 inches to over 20 inches and vary in subject matter from peaceful Buddhas, such as a late 17th/early 18th century standing multi-headed and multi-armed Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, to wrathful gods such as a vigorously sculpted Vajrapani, a protector of the Buddhist faith.
There has been a growing interest in Mongolian art following the 1995/6 US touring exhibition Mongolia: the Legacy of Chinggis Khan organised by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Early in the 13th century the legendary Chinggis, also known as Ghengis, Khan united the many feuding Mongol tribes into a powerful nation. His conquering armies swept into China and Europe, creating one of the largest empires in history that stretched from Korea to the banks of the Danube. Chinggis’ grandson Khubilai, or Kublai, Khan defeated the Song dynasty in China in 1279 and established his magnificent capital at Cambuluc, present-day Beijing. Under Khubilai, a Buddhist-based relationship was forged between Mongolia and Tibet and this was reinstated in 1578 by Altan Khan who gave the Tibetan monk Sonam Gyatsho the title Dalai (Ocean) Lama and was in turn recognised as a reincarnation of Khubilai Khan.
The 17th and 18th centuries were a period of cultural reinvention in East Asia, much of it inspired by Mongol ideas. Zanabazar (1635-1723), a direct descendant of Chinggis Khan, was an inspirational and important figure, remarkable as a monk, artist and engineer. He became the religious ruler of Mongolia and had a great influence on religious, social and political affairs and significantly contributed to the development of the arts in the country. It is rare for artists to be identified in Buddhist art and undoubtedly Zanabazar was one of the greatest. He was highly skilful in bronze casting and his long and prolific career exemplifies a cultural movement that swept over Mongolia, Tibet and the Manchu court of China. The sculptures in Rossi & Rossi’s exhibition are all from the Zanabazar school.
A 17th/early 18th century figure of Sitatapatra, goddess of the glorious white parasol, bears a strong resemblance to a group attributed to Zanabazar himself and has all the characteristics of his sculptural style with its rich gilding and painted details, attention to jewellery design and textile patterns. The goddess is depicted in her simplest form, with one head and two arms. Her full, sensual body is slightly inclined to the right, she is adorned with elaborate jewellery and the sensitive modelling of her face and voluptuous body are also characteristic of the master sculptor. The figure measures 9 ins high.
Another exceptional bronze from the same period shows the same exquisite gilding and sensibility towards the female form that is typical of the best Mongolian sculpture and of Zanabazar and his school, 8 ins high. It depicts Machig Labdrön (c.1031-1129), one of the most important and popular female yoginis of Tibet, an extremely rare subject in Mongolia. The yogini is seated with her damaru or hand drum in her right hand and a skull cup in the left. Her tantric jewellery - skull crown and bone aprons, necklaces and anklets - is decorated with Buddhist wheels and sun and crescent moon motifs, a Buddhist wheel also tops her elegant chignon. The teachings of Machig Labdrön and her guru first formed the basis of a separate peacemaking order but later became accepted in all Tibetan orders.
A vigorously sculpted 17th/18th century figure of Vajrapani, or thunderbolt bearer, depicts the wrathful and powerful deity, remover of obstacles and fierce protector of the Buddhist faith, standing in militant pose holding the vajra or thunderbolt in his right hand, 7˝ ins high. He has flaming red hair, three popping eyes and his moustache and eyebrows have flame-like forms. Vajrapani was of special importance to Zanabazar who was initiated into the deity’s mysteries whilst studying with Tibetan masters.
Sitasamvara is depicted in a 17th/18th century gilt-copper sculpture, 9˝ ins high, seated with his consort Vajravarahi on his lap. They are joined in mystical union, symbolising the merging of wisdom and compassion, the essence of enlightenment, and both are beautifully crowned, coiffed and bejewelled, with traces of paint remaining on their hair and his face. Avalokiteshvara, the eleven-headed, eight-armed Bodhisattva of Compassion is depicted in a 17th/18th century gilt-copper sculpture, 11˝ ins high, of elegant proportions with elaborate jewellery and traces of blue paint in the hair and flowing garments. In both these sculptures the facial features, with sharp noses and full lips, are typical of Zanabazar and his school.
An extremely complex sculpture depicts Hayagriva, the Horse-necked one, who can be identified by the horse emanating from one head, 8˝ ins high. He has wings, three heads, four legs, six arms, a third eye, a necklace of severed human heads, and wears the skins of a lion and an elephant. Hayagriva stands in union with his naked consort Vajravarahi, who is identified by the head of a sow merging from her flame-red hair.
This remarkable and unprecedented exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated scholarly catalogue with an essay by Gilles Beguin, Conservateur general du Musée Cernuschi, Paris, who was co-curator of the exhibition Trésors de Mongolie, XVII-XIX siècles, at the Musée Guimet in 1993/4.
The exhibition is held to coincide with the International Asian Art Fair, 1 to 6 April 2005.
