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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ancient Art / India - Jain Yellow bronze
Remarkable domestic votive Jain altar of Pāñcatīrthika type, cast in yellow bronze, a copper alloy probably rich in zinc. The central figure represents Mahāvīra, also named Vardhamāna, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara. He is depicted facing forward, seated in meditation, legs crossed and hands joined in the dhyānamudrā on the lap. Mahāvīra is surrounded by four secondary Tirthankaras standing in kāyotsarga, arranged symmetrically two by two. The presence of these five Jinas justifies the designation of a Pāñcatīrthika composition. The main figure is set in a deep architectural niche beneath a projecting canopy decorated with triangular pendants. The upper part features a stylized honorific umbrella, two elephants facing the central axis, and a crown ending in a conical pinnacle. The whole is inscribed within a broad open-work torana-prabhāvalī, whose regular openings and the various architectural registers evoke the façade of a miniature sanctuary. The substructure includes a small central edifice housing a meditating figure, accompanied by several secondary figures in devotional attitudes. Under the throne appear two lions facing each other. These animals belong to the vocabulary of the sacred throne and also constitute the lāñchana, or traditional emblem, of Mahāvīra. A auspicious oval mark visible at the centre of the torso may be interpreted as a vernacular representation of the śrīvatsa, a traditional sign associated with the Jinas. The reverse bears a long dedicatory inscription engraved in the metal after casting, probably at the time of finishing and consecrating the altar. The reading retained identifies the name of Vardhamāna and the date Vikrama Saṃvat 1862, corresponding to 1805-1806 CE, according to the month and the local conversion system. The work can be attributed to western India, probably Gujarat or Rajasthan, and belongs to the tradition of small domestic Jain shrines produced in the early 19th century. Patina Patina is one of the main interests of this piece. The surface shows an ancient, complex and stratified patina, combining olive, golden-brown and deep green hues with reddish and pinkish deposits preserved in the hollows. The raised reliefs are smoother and brighter, while the protected areas retain old oxides and deposits. This surface is particularly distinctive compared with the patinas usually observed on the small Jain votive altars of this category. The piece has been kept exactly in the state in which it was acquired. It has not been cleaned or polished by Mimosa SA. Condition Very good condition. Item intact, stable and complete, without restoration, soldering, cracks or movable elements. The gaps, contour irregularities and thickness variations are inherent to the casting and artisanal manufacture of the work. The deposits, oxides and surface variations are compatible with its age and history of use. Dimensions Height: 13 cm Width: 9 cm Maximum thickness: 4.5 cm Weight: 515 g Provenance RM Lefevre collection, formed between 1979 and 2009. Acquired directly from the collector’s widow by Mimosa SA in 2025. Documentation The work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a complete illustrated study, prepared by Olivier Maréchal for Mimosa SA after direct physical examination of the piece and cross-checking with high-definition photographs, video, specialised documentation and museum comparisons. A museum comparison particularly close in dimensions and in architectural and iconographic composition is preserved at the University of New England Museum of Antiquities, under inventory number MA1997.21.1. Shipping The work will be packaged with care and shipped with tracking and insurance. When shipping, the buyer will receive a complete file including the detailed real transport cost, tracking information, the certificate, associated documents and useful photographs. In the interest of transparency, when the amount paid by the buyer for delivery is greater than the actual charged cost, the difference is automatically refunded as soon as the sale settlement is released by Catawiki. This procedure has been applied several times and constitutes a standing commitment of Mimosa SA to its buyers. Link Video : https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5nlz55m3zyqoz7tidb2g9/ABN6YDK1owxdyaA4xK1e_Sk?rlkey=jo5vk59bry9jg91p2sj7j0yqz&dl=0"} }# Answer that JSON object only. Ensure proper quoting. The trailing quote seems extra; ensure valid JSON. There's an extra quote at end in my text. Need fix: remove trailing quote. Also ensure within translated_text string no stray newline? it's fine. Let's provide corrected.
Estimate:£768.57
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Estimate:
£768.57
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