Nice Enchères
163
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BURMA, Shan Kingdom, 17th century
A rare sandstone guardian …
See original version (French)
163
-
BURMA, Shan Kingdom, 17th century
A rare sandstone guardian …
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Voluntary lot
Description
BURMA, Shan Kingdom, 17th century
A rare sandstone guardian figure known as a ‘Nat’, this anthropozoomorphic figure is depicted crouching in a stable posture, with both hands firmly planted on the ground and the legs slightly twisted. The sculpture takes a hybrid form, with a human head bearing a serene expression, resting on a zoomorphic lion’s body; it is clad in light garments and adorned with jewellery.
Height: 52 cm
In the spiritual traditions of Burma, the Nats constitute a pantheon of guardian spirits deeply rooted in popular belief, alongside Buddhism. These entities, often derived from deified historical or mythological figures, are endowed with protective and apotropaic powers.
Guardian Nats figures, such as the one presented here, were traditionally placed at the entrance to temples, shrines or important residences to ward off harmful influences and protect the premises. Their hybrid iconography, blending human and animal characteristics, reinforces their symbolic dimension: they embody supernatural power.
Provenance: private collection assembled in the 1990s.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits:
Ilan Dehé
See original version (French)
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