| 中文版 English

具体要求

其它要求

-
关闭
A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF A ROYAL COUPLE
奥地利
09月12日 下午5点 开拍 / 09月10日 下午3点 截止委托
拍品描述

Description

A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF A ROYAL COUPLE

Published: Editor Paolo Bertuzzi; Author Agus Aris Munandar: Majapahit: Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, 2023, p. 26-29, fig. 005.

Indonesia, East Java, Trowulan area, Majapahit Empire (1297-1527). Finely modeled in terracotta, the couple is shown seated atop a rectangular pedestal adorned with scrolling tendrils. The woman gently places her right hand on the man’s waist, while his left arm encircles her shoulder, their upper bodies and heads inclined tenderly toward one another. This intimate posture may be interpreted as a variant of maharajalilasana, a relaxed royal pose in which both legs extend downward and rest upon the base.

The pair is richly adorned in the opulent regalia of the Majapahit court. The male figure wears a tall conical kiritamukuta, the crown typically associated with Vishnu, and his long hair is tied into a small bun at the back. He is further embellished with a complete set of royal jewelry, including a broad necklace, chest cord, armlets, double bracelets, a breast-belt, and a hip belt. His paridhana (sarong), decorated with geometric patterns, flows elegantly to the feet. The female figure echoes his attire with subtle distinctions: instead of a crown, she wears a finely incised headband, and her sarong is adorned with a delicate sinuous floral motif.

While it is tempting to associate the pair with King Hayam Wuruk of Majapahit (r. 1351–1389) and his consort Paduka Sori, no definitive evidence confirms this identification.

Provenance: Acquired in the Trowulan area at the end of the 20th century by Paolo Bertuzzi, thence by descent. Paolo Bertuzzi (1943–2022), was a fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy. He was the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, founder of Hettabretz, a noted Italian fashion company with customers such as the Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother’s business and designed exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, USA. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than 60 years. His collection includes both archaic and contemporary art. He also edited two important books on Asian art: Goa Made – An Archaeological Discovery and Majapahit – Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, both documenting major excavation projects carried out in collaboration with the respective national governments of Indonesia and Italy.
Condition: Presenting well and in stable, restored condition. Exhibiting areas of loss and cracking, with associated surface wear, soil encrustations, and weathering, all consistent with age and material. The dark surface may result from burial in the mud of the Brantas River.

Dimensions: Height approx. 49 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a related, significantly smaller, Javanese terracotta figure of an amorous couple, dating to the 14th century, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), accession no. 1994.234.4

The Majapahit Empire, which flourished in East Java, Indonesia, from the late 13th to the early 16th century, was one of Southeast Asia’s most influential Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, renowned for its cultural sophistication and far-reaching political power. Under the reign of King Hayam Wuruk (1350–1389), Majapahit’s capital, Trowulan, emerged as a vibrant center of religious devotion and artistic production. Among the most distinctive legacies of the Majapahit period is its prolific use of terracotta, employed for both utilitarian and symbolic purposes.

Terracotta artifacts from the Majapahit Empire include figurines, architectural elements such as roof tiles, bricks, and columns, as well as everyday objects like water jars, stoves, vases, and piggy banks. These works provide invaluable insight into the daily life, attire, belief systems, and social structures of the time. Majapahit terracotta figures depict a wide range of subjects, from deities, dancers, and mythical beasts to animals and common people, reflecting both the religious and secular dimensions of the empire’s artistic output.

本场其它拍品

  • 竞价阶梯
  • 快递物流
  • 拍卖规则
  • 支付方式
竞价区间 加价幅度
0
10
50
50
600
100
1,600
200
4,000
500
8,000
1,000
16,000
2,000
40,000
5,000
80,000
10,000
160,000
20,000
+

价格信息

拍品估价:2,400 - 5,000 欧元 起拍价格:2,400 欧元  买家佣金: 35.00%

拍卖公司

Galerie Zacke
地址: Sterngasse 13, 1010 Vienna, Austria
电话: 0043-1-5320452
邮编: 1070
向卖家提问