A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF STANDING NARO DAKINI Mongolia, 19th/20th century (3)

A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF STANDING NARO DAKINI Mongolia, 19th/20th century Standing atop two prone figures, the goddess surrounded by flames and adorned with jewellery, wearing a skull crown and a garland of skulls, with her head raised, the right hand holding a kartika (ritual knife) and the left hand raising a kapala (skull cup) to her lips, pouring blood into her mouth, balancing a staff on her shoulder. 13.5cm (5 3/8in) high. (3). Footnotes: 蒙古 十九/二十世紀 銅鎏金空行母背光銅像 Provenance: Spink & Son Ltd., London, February 1995 (invoice) Ben Janssens Oriental Art, London 來源： 倫敦古董商 Spink & Son Ltd., 1995年2月（收據） 倫敦古董商 Ben Janssens Oriental Art Published/Illustrated/Exhibited: Spink & Son Ltd., The Mirror of Mind: Art of Vajrayana Buddhism, London, 1995, p.40, no.31 展覽著錄： Spink & Son Ltd.，《The Mirror of Mind: Art of Vajrayana Buddhism》，倫敦，1995年，第40頁，編號31 Naro Dakini, also known as 'sky walker', is a deity in Buddhism, said to be a manifestation or embodiment of Vajravarahi. The deity serves as a spiritual guide who led practitioners in overcoming the desires, delusions and fears of the world, leading them towards enlightenment. She appeared in an initiatory vision to the esteemed Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha Naropa (956–1040), imparting sacred teachings to him. Following this encounter, Naropa's disciples began referring to her as Naro Dakini. See a similar image of Dakini depicted in a Tibetan thangka as a manifestation of Vajravarahi, 18th century, in the collection of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore (acc. no.35.334). For a stylistic comparable, see a brass figure of Dakini, 17th century, illustrated in Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1981, pp.486-487, pl.137F. See a related Tibeto-Chinese silver figure of Naro Dakini, 18th century, which was sold at London Bonhams, 12 November 2015, lot 83. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing