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6. RARE BRONZE CANDELABRUM
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The dish is supported by five cabriole legs formed by acanthus leaves. Three lokapalas or guardian figures support the double floral candle holder rising on a stem on the dish with a bright green patina covering the bronze. This candelabrum with its highly unusual composite elements of floral, foliate and Buddhist guardian figures appears to be unique. The separate elements may be compared to other ornaments or design conventions of the Tang period. Five-legged censers and footed dishes are familiar; a large marble brazier with five gilt-bronze lions standing on their hind legs was included in the annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures, Nara, 1987, catalogue no. 14; an incense burner with five animal-shaped legs is published in The Silk Road and the Shoso-in, pl. 61; the lotus flower on the facing page, ibid. pl. 60 is a useful reference for the floral dish of the candelabrum. Detailed examples of five foliate feet on stands or trays show a close relation to the present bronze, ibid. pls. 149-54. The three lokapalas are unusually used as atlas figures. They are more often seen in pairs in tomb or temple sculptures; a pair of limestone lokapalas are published in The Art of Contemplation-Religious Sculpture from Private Collections, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1997, exhibition catalogue nos. 72 and 73. |
