GUARDIAN (DVARAPALA) ON A ROCKY BASE

China

Year 17th century

Materials Lacquered wood with polychromy and traces of gilding (low zinc brass metal foil)

Inventory Cs/12b

Dimensions 91 * x 40 * x 20-25 cm

Definition Statue

Subject Statue of the Temple Guardian (Dvārapāla or Lishi) standing

Collection

China

Additional Infos Provenance: Shanxi or Shaanxi

Description “Doorkeeper” (dvarapala) placed to the right of the entrance to a Buddhist temple or altar. The top of the shaved skull features a tuft of hair surrounded by ribbons. The face posed in a furious grimace and the exceptional musculature of the ribcage respond to the classical canons of apotropaic depictions. The left arm is raised in a threatening gesture. The floating scarf behind the head and around the shoulders adds dynamism to the figure.