13th Oct, 2023 11:00
THREE-DAY AUCTION - Fine Chinese Art / 中國藝術集珍 / Buddhism & Hinduism
730
A BRASS FIGURE OF DURGA MAHISHASURAMARDINI, INDIA, 16TH-17TH CENTURY
Sold for €1,040
including Buyer's Premium
Well cast to depict the eight-armed goddess Durga slaying Mahishasura just as the demon emerges from the decapitated body of the buffalo, all raised on a stepped rectangular base incised with cross-hatched lines. The goddess’s right foot rests on the back of her lion vehicle, who roars in victory as the figure delivers the death blow with her trident while grasping the demon’s head. Her radiating arms hold her attributes, the trident, club, lotus, sword, chakra, conch, bow and arrow. The brass with a rich, naturally grown, pale red patina.
Provenance: From the private collection of Madeleine and Erich Dammann, no. 76, and thence by descent. Newlyweds Madeleine and Erich Dammann embarked on their first trip to India in 1950, driven by their curiosity about foreign cultures. Settling in Switzerland in 1963, Erich worked as a television editor and worked for Rundschau which specialized in reports from around the world, enabling him to travel extensively and collect art and objects from different cultures. Madeleine often joined him on these explorations. Over 50 years, their shared passion led to a diverse collection encompassing everyday objects, furniture, weapons, masks, musical instruments, jewelry, and more. The collection became an integral part of their family's life, shaping their home visually and emotionally.
Condition: Very good condition with distinct old wear, mostly from extended worshipping within the culture, and expected casting irregularities, as well as small nicks, light scratches, minor dents. The aureole is lost.
Weight: 1,275 g
Dimensions: Height 17.8 cm
Please click here to read the full description
The warrior manifestation of Adi Parashakti or Mahadevi (the Supreme Being in Shaktism) is represented in her most popular form as Mahishasuramardini (Slayer of the Buffalo Demon). Whilst representations of Durga can have between two and twenty arms, in medieval Indian art she is most often shown with only eight or ten arms.
The weapons that Durga holds were bestowed upon her by male Hindu deities. Here, she holds Vishnu's conch (shankha) and disc-like weapon (Sudarshana Chakra) in her upper pair of hands, whereas her two principal, lower hands push Shiva's massive trident into Mahishasura's chest. The artist brilliantly captures the ultimate culmination of this fierce battle, when the powerful demon humbly realizes Durga's blatant superiority in the very moment of his death. The demon in human form emerges from the neck of his buffalo guise. The buffalo's body supports the foot of Durga's bent right leg, whilst the foot of her outstretched left leg rests on the back of her mount (vahana), a lion.
Goddess Durga fought Mahishasura for 10 whole days. The shape-shifting demon was no match for the radiant and strong goddess. On the tenth day, she slayed him. The nine days of battle became what is celebrated today as Hindu festival of Navaratri, and the tenth day—the day of victory—is Vijaya Dashami.
Durga's serene, calm and graceful face starkly contrasts with the lion's unleashed force and the demon's last rearing up. The crescent moon in her crown alludes to her association with Shiva, whose Shakti (female creative energy) is known in various manifestations, such as Sati, Parvati, Durga or Kall.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2008, lot 345
Price: USD 5,000 or approx. EUR 6,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A brass figure of Durga slaying the buffalo, India, Orissa, 15th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and brass material. Note the size (14.9 cm).
Well cast to depict the eight-armed goddess Durga slaying Mahishasura just as the demon emerges from the decapitated body of the buffalo, all raised on a stepped rectangular base incised with cross-hatched lines. The goddess’s right foot rests on the back of her lion vehicle, who roars in victory as the figure delivers the death blow with her trident while grasping the demon’s head. Her radiating arms hold her attributes, the trident, club, lotus, sword, chakra, conch, bow and arrow. The brass with a rich, naturally grown, pale red patina.
Provenance: From the private collection of Madeleine and Erich Dammann, no. 76, and thence by descent. Newlyweds Madeleine and Erich Dammann embarked on their first trip to India in 1950, driven by their curiosity about foreign cultures. Settling in Switzerland in 1963, Erich worked as a television editor and worked for Rundschau which specialized in reports from around the world, enabling him to travel extensively and collect art and objects from different cultures. Madeleine often joined him on these explorations. Over 50 years, their shared passion led to a diverse collection encompassing everyday objects, furniture, weapons, masks, musical instruments, jewelry, and more. The collection became an integral part of their family's life, shaping their home visually and emotionally.
Condition: Very good condition with distinct old wear, mostly from extended worshipping within the culture, and expected casting irregularities, as well as small nicks, light scratches, minor dents. The aureole is lost.
Weight: 1,275 g
Dimensions: Height 17.8 cm
Please click here to read the full description
The warrior manifestation of Adi Parashakti or Mahadevi (the Supreme Being in Shaktism) is represented in her most popular form as Mahishasuramardini (Slayer of the Buffalo Demon). Whilst representations of Durga can have between two and twenty arms, in medieval Indian art she is most often shown with only eight or ten arms.
The weapons that Durga holds were bestowed upon her by male Hindu deities. Here, she holds Vishnu's conch (shankha) and disc-like weapon (Sudarshana Chakra) in her upper pair of hands, whereas her two principal, lower hands push Shiva's massive trident into Mahishasura's chest. The artist brilliantly captures the ultimate culmination of this fierce battle, when the powerful demon humbly realizes Durga's blatant superiority in the very moment of his death. The demon in human form emerges from the neck of his buffalo guise. The buffalo's body supports the foot of Durga's bent right leg, whilst the foot of her outstretched left leg rests on the back of her mount (vahana), a lion.
Goddess Durga fought Mahishasura for 10 whole days. The shape-shifting demon was no match for the radiant and strong goddess. On the tenth day, she slayed him. The nine days of battle became what is celebrated today as Hindu festival of Navaratri, and the tenth day—the day of victory—is Vijaya Dashami.
Durga's serene, calm and graceful face starkly contrasts with the lion's unleashed force and the demon's last rearing up. The crescent moon in her crown alludes to her association with Shiva, whose Shakti (female creative energy) is known in various manifestations, such as Sati, Parvati, Durga or Kall.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2008, lot 345
Price: USD 5,000 or approx. EUR 6,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A brass figure of Durga slaying the buffalo, India, Orissa, 15th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and brass material. Note the size (14.9 cm).
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