19th C. Japanese Edo / Meiji Wood Garuda

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Art of Asia | Antiquity to Present

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 11, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-03-11 12:00:00 2021-03-11 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Art of Asia | Antiquity to Present https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/art-of-asia-antiquity-to-present-6497
Featuring antiquities, ancient and works of art ranging from the third millennium BCE to the present from China, Japan, South and Southeast Asia, and Korea. Including jades, bronzes, lacquer, textiles, paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, and other art forms in other media. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  East Asia, Japan, Edo to Meiji period, 19th century CE. A striking hand-carved and hand-painted wooden statue depicting a magnificent Garuda (also Karura) - a member of the Tenbu, one of the eight deity groups that guard Buddhism. The hybrid half bird/half human figure stands with the left leg bent at the knee and raised with its foot placed upon a drum or barrel-like structure. The hybrid creature boasts avian winged arms, tufts of plumage rising behind the ears, and pointed talons. The creature looks out with bulging eyes, a human nose, and a beak-like mouth. Interestingly, its ribcage and one teat are pronounced, and its raised right hand makes a gesture with curled fingers, perhaps intended to grip a weapon or attribute. Adding to this Garuda's splendor is its wonderful ensemble of jewel tone blue and red garments, the sinuous golden sash around its neck and billowing all the way past its feet, and the crown/cap atop its head. Size: 8.875" L x 13" W x 27.625" H (22.5 cm x 33 cm x 70.2 cm)
  
  A Karura is a deified creature of Japanese mythology. Its name is a translation of the term Garuda. Garuda is a mythical avian humanoid creature (note the human hands in combination with the undeniable bird characteristics of this figure) that is important in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology, representing the enlightened mind and by extension signifying unborn and never-ending possibilities. In Buddhist mythology, Garuda are the brilliant gold-winged Peng birds that possess great intelligence, and most impressively, have the ability to grow quite large or quite small, as well as to appear and disappear. They are known for their brilliant wings which are believed to span miles and miles. According to legend, when Garuda's wings flap, hurricane-like winds dramatically blow down shelters and darken the skies; this narrative stemming from tales of golden-winged Peng birds, believed to dry up the seas with one flap of their wings in order to devour the exposed dragons residing in the waters.
  
  According to early Hindu literature, Lord Vishnu granted Garuda immortality, and Garuda serves as Vishnu’s mount (avatar). According to the Tibetan tradition, Garuda is a mythical bird, akin to an eagle, however, presenting on a gigantic scale and possessing the ability to block the sunlight due to its size. In Japan, Garuda is a huge, fire-breathing composite eagle-man.
  
  Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
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  #161922

  Condition

  Section of Karura's/Garuda's back reattached. Expected surface wear with some darkening and fading to pigmentation commensurate with age, though much remains. Stable age cracks/fissures/punctures here and there. Inactive insect losses to the base as shown. Missing left hand.
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