Hong Kong – Bonhams will auction 37 works from the private collection of Ulrich von Schroeder, a preeminent scholar of Himalayan art, in Hong Kong this October. Titled Reverence: Important Himalayan Art from the Collection of Ulrich von Schroeder, the sale represents five decades of systematic acquisition. Key lots will be previewed in Shanghai, Beijing, and Taipei prior to the auction.
Von Schroeder is recognized for establishing foundational scholarship in Himalayan art history. His 1981 publication, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, provided the first comprehensive chronology of Tibetan metal sculpture across twelve centuries. Subsequent works include Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet (2001), documenting over 1,000 bronzes in previously inaccessible monasteries, and Nepalese Stone Sculptures (2019), cataloging nearly 3,000 Hindu and Buddhist works. These publications remain primary academic references due to their methodological rigor and descriptive precision.
Mark Rasmussen, Bonhams’ International Director of Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art, noted: “Von Schroeder pioneered the systematic tracing of Tibetan sculpture’s stylistic evolution. His six decades of research expanded the field’s parameters. Bonhams’ 2016 sale of his works achieved a record price for Tibetan sculpture; we are privileged to present further selections.”
Dora Tan, Head of Sale for the category, added: “The collection reflects a scholar’s discernment, prioritizing artistic significance and cultural resonance. It accommodates diverse collectors, spanning refined Buddhist sculptures, rare illuminated palm-leaf manuscripts, and connoisseur-level works—all bearing documented provenance.”
Notable Auction Works
- Gilt Copper-Alloy Figure of Durga Mahishasuramardini
Nepal, Malla Period (1550–1650); 32 cm
Estimate: 5–7 million HKD (≈550,000–770,000 EUR)
A definitive example from Nepal’s Three Kingdoms era, depicting Durga subduing the buffalo demon. The dynamic composition contrasts with the deity’s serene expression, characteristic of Kathmandu Valley iconography. - Copper-Alloy Figure of Avalokiteshvara
Kashmir, 10th Century; 61 cm
Estimate: 5–7 million HKD (≈550,000–770,000 EUR)
Among fewer than five known large Kashmiri bronzes in private hands. Its honey-toned alloy and contemplative demeanor reflect Kashmir’s influence on Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist art during its zenith as a scholastic center. - Portrait Thangka of Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen (1147–1216)
Southern Tibet, Ngor Monastery, c. 1600; distemper on cotton; 78.5 × 67 cm
Estimate: 2.5–3.5 million HKD (≈275,000–385,000 EUR)
From the dispersed Ngor lamdre lineage series—most housed in institutions like The Met and Musée Guimet. Exemplifies the monastery’s distinct palette, precision brushwork, and psychological depth in depicting Sakya tradition hierarchs.
