CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, XVIIIEME SIECLE Il est représenté en alidhasana piétinant des divinités placées sur une base. Il enlace sa parèdre Vajravarahi, ses mains principales tiennent le vajra et la ghanta. Ses autres bras rayonnent autour de lui et tiennent divers attributs. L'autel ouvre à deux battants et repose sur une double base rehaussée de pétales de lotus. Les portes sont ornées de divinités et de rinceaux feuillagés. Des reliques sont conservées dans la base de l'autel. Haut de la statue: 15 cm. (5 in.), Haut de l'autel: 18 cm. (7 1/8 in.)
This silver sacred image depicts the four-faced and twelve-armed Cakrasamvara embracing his consort Vajravarahi. They represent, respectively, compassion and wisdom and its union leads to enlightenment and Buddhahood. His name can be interpreted as one of ‘joined to the wheel of wisdom and bliss’. One of his distinctive attributes, the elephant-skin and symbol of illusion is stretched across his shoulders and held by the upper hands. His principle hands demonstrate the vajra and ghanta, symbolizing the transcending of duality culminating in enlightenment. The couple is trampling upon the Hindu gods Bhairava and Kalaratri as symbol of the superiority of Buddhism over Hinduism.
The artist cast this figure with an almost electrifying intensity radiating from the central face of the deity. The eyebrows is knitted in anger; his open mouth with fangs and still his face does not show bulging eyes and gaping jaw as is typical for wrathful deities. His emotionless facial expression is one between peace and wrath, while reflecting at the same time his impersonality of being a yidam or ‘pure appearance’ who transcendent duality.
Cakrasamvara and his consort are placed in a parcel-gilt silver shrine (gahu) which was a tradition within the Tibetan Buddhist culture. The fact that the present shrine is closed and does not show a window to reveal the deity inside most likely demonstrates that it was supposed to stand on a private altar. Some relics are kept in the base of the shrine. Most likely this high quality shrine and figure were made in one of the major workshops in China as present for an important Lama. Compare to another silver figure, though presenting Hevajra, sold in Christie's Paris, 12 December 2018, lot 29.