Mongolian Copper Hayagriva Figure, 18th/19th Century

A copper alloy repousse figure of Hayagriva, Mongolia, 18th/ 19th century 39.1 cm high. Considered to be the terrific form of Amitabha or Avalokiteshvara, Hayagriva is one of the main archetype deities (yidam) of Tibetan Buddhism. Hayagriva, or the Horse-Necked One, derives his name from the small horses' heads that surmount the deity's head. He was created originally to conquer a demon named Matong Rudra, and is said to possess ability to cure disease. Especially favoured by the Nyingma Order from its earliest days, it later became popular in the Sakya, Kagyu, and Jonang traditions and was adopted into the Gelugpa School. The particular form of this lot is called 'Secret Accomplishment Hayagriva'. Following the Gelugpa preference for a more animated warrior's pose, the deity's wrathful nature is amplified with bulging eyes, broad beak-like nose, terrific mouth of bared fangs, and protruding tongue. Each of the three faces are framed with a five-skull crown, one of the 'eight cemetery ornaments' adorning the deity, others including an elephant-skin cloak, a human-skin vest, and a tiger-skin skirt, each can be identified by a pair of hands tied as a knot across his neck, and the heads of an elephant and a tiger on his back. The arrangement of jewellery enhances the pectorals and swollen bell, and four pairs of legs stomp firmly on eight nagas in snake form. Compare a six-armed Hayagriva in the Jacques Marchais Museum published in Lipton & Ragnubs, Treasure of Tibetan Art, New York, Oxford, 1996, p.111, no.47, and a Mahakala attributed to the Dolonnor workshop, sold with Bonhams, The Maitri Collection of Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art, New York, 20 March 2018, Sale 24597, Lot 3215