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A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF NANDISARAJA
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 NANDISARAJA

Published: Editor Paolo Bertuzzi; Author Agus Aris Munandar: Majapahit: Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, 2023, p. 120-121, fig. 065.

Indonesia, East Java, Trowulan area, Majapahit Empire (1297-1527). This finely modeled terracotta figure presents a seated anthropomorphic bull, representing Nandisaraja, closely associated with the iconography of Nandi. The figure sits in a symmetrical, formal pose reminiscent of classic Ganesha portrayals, with legs crossed and hands resting on the knees. The proportions are balanced, combining a bulky human torso with a naturalistically rendered bull’s head. The ears and horns are shaped with anatomical accuracy, while the expression remains calm and composed. The head is crowned by a tall jatamukuta, composed of twisted matted hair arranged in tiers and ending in thick curls at the back. A headband runs across the brow, adorned with a row of small gem-like elements and a central floral motif in place of the traditional tilaka. The figure wears richly detailed ornaments, including a necklace, breast-band with lozenge-shaped applique, decorative belt and buckle, bangles, and anklets. The ornamentation is highly refined, suggesting the representation of rare and sacred jewelry normally reserved for high deities. The figure is seated on a circular pedestal decorated with continuous spiral vegetal patterns.

In the Majapahit period, the king was often equated with Shiva Mahadeva, and his most powerful official, the mahapatih, could symbolically assume the role of Shiva’s vahana, Nandi. This statue may represent such a figure in divine form, possibly commissioned or owned by a high-ranking official.

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. 64 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare to a related terracotta figure of Ganesha, Java, 14th century, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), accession number M.83.221.3.

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.

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拍品估价:3,000 - 6,000 欧元 起拍价格:3,000 欧元  买家佣金: 35.00%

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