Bonhams has announced that its Himalayan, Indian and Southeast Asian sale will offer the renowned Eilenberg Buddha on September 11 in New York.
 The auction will feature 20 items from Eilenberg's remarkable collection |
The sculpture, a copper alloy cast of a standing Buddha from Thailand's Mon Dvaravati culture (circa 8th century), is the most important of its kind to appear on the market for the last 25 years, and is arguably the finest example remaining in private hands. It will lead bids in the sale at $250,000-350,000.
Comparable examples to the sculpture exist in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and Thailand's National Museum in Bangkok. It originates from the estate of Natasha Eilenberg, a respected independent scholar of art and culture in India and Southeast Asia. The impeccable provenance of her collection, of which 20 pieces will feature in Bonhams' sale, is expected to attract strong attention from both collectors and museums.
Also featuring from Eilenberg's remarkable collection will be a copper alloy figure of Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. Originating from the 8th-9th century kingdom of Srivijaya, which incorporated Thailand, Malaya and Indonesia, the figure can be compared to a similar example in the Benningson Collection and a figure of Lokesvara in the Museum of Vat Po Veal. It will sell with a $10,000-15,000 estimate.
Collectors will have the opportunity to bid on a selection of contemporary Asian artworks on September 10 at Sotheby's New York, in its auction of Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art.
Check back with us to find out how the Eilenberg Buddha fared in the sale and for more of the latest news and investment advice on art collecting.
