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A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF THE SACRED BULL NANDI
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
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Description

A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF THE SACRED BULL NANDI

Published: Editor Paolo Bertuzzi; Author Agus Aris Munandar: Majapahit: Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, 2023, p. 128, fig. 070.

Indonesia, East Java, Trowulan area, Majapahit Empire (1297-1527). This terracotta relief sculpture depicts Nandi, the sacred bull and vahana of Shiva Mahadeva. Shown in a standing position, the animal’s body is rendered with soft modeling. A thin necklace adorned with rows of small jewel-like details encircles the neck, emphasizing the bull’s divine status. The base is intricately carved with spiral reliefs, possibly referencing a dense vegetal environment of grass or shrubs. The bull’s face has a well-meaning expression and the expressive hunch as well as vividly waving tail at the rear add to the liveliness to the animal portrayal.

Nandi, the bull, is the divine mount (vahana) of the Hindu god Shiva and one of the most iconic figures in Shaivite tradition. Always shown facing Shiva's shrine in temples, Nandi represents loyalty, strength, and devotion. His calm demeanor and steady posture reflect spiritual discipline and faith.

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.

Dimensions: Size approx. 50 x 57 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a related andesite statue of Parvati standing on Nandi, East Javanese period, 14th century, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2001.407.

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

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