Spectacular Claude de Marteau Collection Part II sells for £2.5 million at Bonhams

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Thursday, March 28, 2024


Spectacular Claude de Marteau Collection Part II sells for £2.5 million at Bonhams
A spectacular gilt copper alloy figure of Chakrasamvara, Tibet, 17th century, demonstrating a sophisticated quality of craftsmanship and in perfect condition, achieved €491,775, doubling its pre-sale estimate. Photo: BOnhams.



LONDON.- The sale of the Part II of the Claude de Marteau Collection, held in Paris yesterday (4 October 2022) at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr demonstrated once again how rare and important this collection was, focusing on the finest Himalayan art and a series of spectacular Buddhist statues from the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. The 56-lot sale, representing a broad range of styles from the 14th to 19th centuries, achieved a total of more €2,5 million with 93% of lots sold.

A spectacular gilt copper alloy figure of Chakrasamvara, Tibet, 17th century, demonstrating a sophisticated quality of craftsmanship and in perfect condition, achieved €491,775, doubling its pre-sale estimate. This statue comes from a prominent patron: the inscription to the back of its base – reading ‘tashilima’ – identifies that it was commissioned by Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet, the traditional monastic seat of the Panchen Lama, the Gelug order's second-in-command.

Edward Wilkinson, Bonhams Head of Indian, Himalayan and South East Asian department, commented: “The market once again responded enthusiastically to the rare and diverse offering. Despite the ongoing restrictions for travel for our mainland Chinese clients we still saw a tremendous amount of new registrations and competitive bidding across-the-board. Additionally, with the second sale also being offered in Paris we are delighted to see a growing participation from clients in Europe.”

Christine de Schaetzen, Director of Business Development of Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Brussels, said: “Since Bonhams started this exciting project, the focus has been to raise awareness of the legacy of Claude de Marteau by staging travelling exhibitions of the collection from Brussels to Geneva, Paris, New York and Hong Kong, accompanied by lectures presented by renowned specialists such as Jane Casey in Paris last Saturday. The extremely positive result of the two sales thus far, with a large number of new collectors from all over the world competing for items at all levels, is testament to the ‘eye’ of Claude de Marteau.”

A powerful and jewel-like representation of a gilt copper alloy figure of Panjaranata Mahakala Tibet, 14th Century hammered for €164,175, after a fierce bidding battle. This exceptional gilded bronze would have required an experienced and dexterous hand, evinced by Mahakala's stocky yet balanced proportions and perfectly finished with a dazzling abstract tiger-skin lower garment.

Alongside this figure, a thangka of Vajradhara and The Eighty-Four Mahasiddhas, Tibet, 16th Century fetched €82,275, ten times its high estimate. It depicts the Primordial Buddha, Vajradhara, seated on an elaborate throne defended by roaring snow lions and surrounded by registers of individualized portraits of the Eighty-Four Mahasiddhas. The inclusion of mountains and rivers staging a few mahasiddhas speaks to the Tibetan thangka painter's growing affinity with the Chinese landscape painting tradition.

An extremely rare gilt copper alloy figure of Vajravidarana, Densatil, Central Tibet, 14th century attracted heavy competition from bidders driving the price to €189,375, doubling the pre-sale estimate. Heavily cast with refined details balancing his semi-wrathful appearance, he is one of the five Cleansing Deities invoked for their ability to purify practitioners of their inner misdeeds and rid them of any diseases.

An elegant and serene figure gilt copper alloy Figure of Manjushri Qing Dynasty, 17th Century portrays Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of 'Transcendental Wisdom'. Seated in dhyanasana, with his raised right hand brandishing a sword, and his left hand in vitarka mudra, it achieved €82,275, within estimate. A gilt copper alloy figure of a yaksha general Qing dynasty, 18th century was able to seduce buyers with a final bid of €69,975, far surpassing its estimate of €15,000-20,000. The Twelve Yaksha Generals are retinue figures associated with the mandala of Bhaisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha. Each of the generals characteristically holds a mongoose in his left hand.

A perfect emblem of the sale was the gilt copper alloy Vajramudgara (Ritual Hammer) China, 17th Century, ‘le marteau’ of the Claude de Marteau Collection, hammered for €86,055. First published and exhibited in 1974 this splendid richly-gilded object, inset with brightly-coloured stones, is an ornate ritual implement that would have been part of an important ritual altar set.

The sale of the Part III of the Collection is planned in Paris in June 2023.










Today's News

October 6, 2022

Paid to fight, even in ancient Greece

Lark Mason Associates announces Fall Asian Art Sale

Thaddaeus Ropac Paris Pantin opens an exhibition of works by Miquel Barceló

The exhibitions Christer Strömholm and Giorgio Vasari's Drawings open at Nationalmuseum

Boijmans makes biggest ever acquisition, 'Greatest Surrealist of us all' added to Dutch cultural heritage

World record for important tall bottle vase with disc by Hans Coper at Bonhams Design sale

Important 18th century map of California highlights Bonhams Exploration and Travel sale

New home announced for Fashion Museum Bath

Major survey of Israeli artist Sigalit Landau explores artist's engagement with the Dead Sea over two decades

Frist Art Museum presents extraordinary and rarely seen textiles from renowned collection of Asian art

High Museum of Art opens first museum survey for Deana Lawson

Spectacular Claude de Marteau Collection Part II sells for £2.5 million at Bonhams

'This Golden Mile' by Kavi Pujara exhibited at Martin Parr Foundation

Theo Richmond, who revived the past in a Polish shtetl, dies at 93

Designed & hand-blocked by the Folly Cove Designers opens at Cape Ann Museum

Exhibition features portraits depicting judges who graduated from Boston University School of Law

Da'Vine Joy Randolph doesn't want anyone finishing her sentences

Charles Fuller, Pulitzer winner for 'A Soldier's Play,' dies at 83

LnS Gallery opens solo exhibition by Jennifer Basile

The Drawing Room presents 'Weaving the Unraveled: New tapestries by Laurie Lambrecht'

1821 Half Eagle soars to $4.6 million, leading First Bass Collection auction to $20.5 million at Heritage Auctions

Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allen Poe among fine autograph and artifacts featuring literature up for auction

Artist Stephanie Syjuco finds new meaning in Wadsworth Atheneum collections in MATRIX 190

Easy Quizzz - Practice Online Tests

How to Choose Curtains That Will Help Soundproof Your Home?

Bet Live Casino Review

What is the Best Content for Growing an Audience on YouTube?

How Many Twitch Viewers to Become a Top Streamer?




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful