尺寸：高31cm
年代：14世纪
质地：铜鎏金
风格：西藏 丹萨替寺
来源：拍卖会
成交：1,875,000港元(2018.10)
参阅：香港邦瀚斯
鉴赏：
銅鎏金金剛亥母像
丹薩替，十四世紀
喜馬拉雅藝術資源網61817號
佛像网, 编号: 金刚亥母029
高31釐米（12 1/4 英吋）

丹萨替寺金碧辉煌的佛塔很少为世人所见，其中一位有幸一览究竟的是意大利藏史学家图奇，他曾在1948年到访后写到：“雕塑和浮雕的无尽财富…黄金遍布、灿烂夺目”（参见Czaja & Proser，《Golden Visions of Densatil》，纽约，2014年，页62）。丹萨替寺约五米高的吉祥多门塔依照藏传佛教密续仪轨次第供奉各种鎏金铜像，形成胜乐金刚法境。图奇同时也在写作中特别提到了多门塔上部的身姿妖冶的女神像。此外，当另一位印度藏学家萨拉特·钱德拉·达斯提及丹萨替寺时也论：“丹萨替寺也许是西藏宗教遗产最为丰富的寺庙…”（同上，页59）。丹萨替寺堪称亚洲最伟大的古迹之一，而这尊精美绝伦的金刚亥母正出自于此。

图奇的随行摄影师梅尔于丹萨替寺拍摄的历史照片，是我们辨识和研究现已分散在世界各处的丹萨替寺造像的重要影像资料。此尊金刚亥母莲座下伸出弯曲的榫，用于固定造像在吉祥多门塔的上部，与历史图片吻合（参见同上，页158-59，图34&35）。其莲座下方的镂空藤蔓纹，佛母强健的身型，以及漂浮的衣带均与历史照片中拍摄的金刚亥母造像一致。其他存世的丹萨替寺金刚亥母像也有出版（参见同上，页166-71，42-4号），另一尊类似的造像于2006年9月17日在纽约佳士得售出，拍品1723号。北京首都博物馆也展览一尊金刚亥母像。

金刚亥母是密教本尊，象征完美的智慧，亦为胜乐金刚的明妃。为了彰显其完美，匠师将其塑造为姿容甜美的曼妙少女正在翩翩起舞，藤蔓与法铃组成的飘带垂落腿间，柔美轻盈，栩栩如生。

來源
Benny Rustenburg，香港，2007年
歐洲私人收藏

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A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF VAJRAVARAHI
DENSATIL, 14TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61817
31 cm (12 1/4 in.) high

Few outsiders were ever able to behold the splendor of Densatil monastery's stupas. Those who did, like Tucci in 1948, remarked at, “a wealth of carvings and reliefs that knew no limits… glittering with gold” (after Czaja & Proser, Golden Visions of Densatil, New York, 2014, p.62). Towering at some five meters high, Densatil's tashi gomang stupas were covered in gilded deities representing the retinue of Chakrasamvara in his celestial realm. The “gamboling” goddesses lining the upper register drew special comment from Tucci as well. Another outsider, Chandra Das, reckoned, “Of all the monasteries in Tibet, this is perhaps the richest in religious treasures…” (ibid., p.59). Densatil was one of the greatest monuments on the Asian continent; this beautiful gilded sculpture of Vajravarahi is one of its treasures.

Showing the stupas intact, Mele's photographs from Tucci's expedition allow us to identify Densatil's dispersed sculptures. The curved tang extending below the base of the present sculpture matches those within the photographs, and would have secured the goddesses to the top of the stupa (ibid., pp.158-9 & 164-5, figs.34 & 35). The openwork treatment of the vines covering the tang from the front further resemble numerous examples of Vajravarahi sculptures photographed at Densatil. Moreover, the robust physiognomy and flailing scarf are also similar to those photographed. Other Densatil Vajravarahi are published (ibid., pp.166-71, nos.42-4). Another sold at Christie's, New York, 17 September 2006, lot 1723. A further example is on display at the Capital Museum, Beijing.

Vajravarahi is the consort of Chakrasamvara and a yidam embodying perfected wisdom. Reflecting her perfection, the caster has afforded her a young and beautiful body. She strikes a graceful dancer's pose, effortlessly resting her weight on one foot. Superb festoons of bells surrounded by vines cascade by her legs. This ornamentation injects movement into the piece, while Vajravarahi's effortless pose and steady gaze provide a counterbalancing calm.

Provenance
Benny Rustenburg, Hong Kong, 2007
Private European Collection