Nice Enchères
173
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BURMA (Upper Burma), 18th/19th century
A rare cast-iron bell…
See original version (French)
173
-
BURMA (Upper Burma), 18th/19th century
A rare cast-iron bell…
See original version (French)
Estimate €600 - €800
Voluntary lot
Description
BURMA (Upper Burma), 18th/19th century
A rare cast-iron bell stand, featuring a narrative decoration in high relief inspired by the Ramayana. At the top, a central scene depicting the abduction of Princess Sita by the demon Ravana, with the two figures depicted together, seated on a flaming base. On either side, dynamic figures depict Prince Rama vanquishing demons. The ring is flanked by hybrid zoo-anthropomorphic creatures, serving as guardian figures. The piece rests on a suitable display base.
Height: 42 cm
Width: 26 cm
In Burmese Buddhism, bells play an essential role in individual ritual practice: the devotee strikes them at the end of their devotions to signal their merit to the guardian spirits (nats) and the various spheres of the cosmos, thereby participating in the economy of merit (punna). Cast iron bell stands, such as this ring, combine structural function with an elaborate iconographic programme. Their decoration, often inspired by the Ramayana, lends the object a protective dimension by illustrating the victory of benevolent forces over demonic powers.
Provenance: private collection assembled in the 1990s.
Sale of 15 May 1994 at the Auxerre Auction House, lot number 155
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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