33. STATUETTE DU BOUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI EN ALLIAGE DE CUIVRE DORÉ NÉPAL, POSSIBLEMENT KHASA MALLA, VERS XIVE SIÈCL Himalayan Art Resources item no. 4886 25.1 cm (9 7/8 in.) high A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA NEPAL, POSSIBLY KHASA MALLA, CIRCA 14TH CENTURY 尼泊爾 或出自卡薩馬拉王朝 約十四世紀 銅鎏金釋迦牟尼像 Provenance: With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s In this sculpture, Shakyamuni conveys his moment of enlightenment to be one of pure relaxation and bliss. Due to the figure's unique traits, its artist likely originated within or nearby the territories that were ruled by the Khasa Mallas, a Buddhist Kingdom in Western Nepal and Western Tibet that flourished between the 12th and 14th centuries (Alsop, "The Metal Sculpture of the Khasa Malla Kingdom" in Singer & Denwood (eds.), Tibetan Art, Towards a Definition of Style, 1997, pp. 68-79). The Khasa Mallas were known to incorporate the stylistic elements of neighboring Buddhist kingdoms into their sculptures, such as those found in the artistic centers of the Late Pala period in Northeast India and the Early Malla period in the Kathmandu Valley. In the case of this figure, its broad physique, hooked nose, and rice-grain patterns incised on the hemline of the robe show a greater degree of borrowing from Malla period sculptures. Its expression also compares favorably to an exceptional Nepalese Tara from the Zimmerman Family Collection, sold at Bonhams, New York, 21 March 2023, lot 513. At the same time, Shakyamuni's teardrop-shaped urna, arched brow, and fishtail-shaped sash draping over his left shoulder are diagnostic of the Khasa Malla style. For example, see a Buddha image with a similarly tall and pointed ushnisha in the Essen Collection (HAR 3313900).