Bonhams is preparing for its inaugural sale of Himalayan art in Hong Kong, which will take place on November 29. The auction, titled “Images of Devotion,” will include three significant lots from the collection of Ulrich von Schroeder, the renowned scholar of Tibetan art, illustrating his impressive contribution to the field of Himalayan art history.The star lot from the collection is a 13th century monumental brass alloy figure of Canda Vajrapani with an estimate of HK$ 22-28 million. Two important artworks by Choying Dorje are included — the painting “Tenth Karmapa,” and the copper composite figure of Vajrapani and Kubera — which are expected to sell for HK$ 10-15 million and HK$ 13-18 million, respectively.BLOUIN ARTINFO spoke with Edward Wilkinson, Head of Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art at Bonhams, about Ulrich von Schroeder’s contribution to Himalayan art history and the demand for Himalayan and Buddhist bronzes and paintings.What can we expect from the upcoming sale “Images of Devotion” in November?A sale of top tier sculpture and painting from the Himalayan region that has been carefully curated with a focus on quality. Many of the works are fresh to the market with well-documented provenance. The group from the von Schroeder collection are some of the most iconic images known, and it represents a very rare opportunity for collectors and institutions to secure true masterpieces.It will be Bonhams’ inaugural Himalayan art auction Hong Kong. What are your expectations?The market for Himalayan art is supported by a broad based foundation across the world. While we are expecting a strong participation from Mainland Chinese clients, we should also see top collectors from the US and Europe present and competing for the top lots. You will be offering three rare pieces from the collection of Ulrich von Schroeder during this auction. Could you give us a background on the collector and what his collection encompasses? What makes this collection particularly distinctive?Ulrich is one of the most highly regarded and respected scholars in the field of Himalayan art. Spanning a career of four decades as a dealer and scholar, he has devoted his life to the study of Tibetan art. The part of his collection being offered by Bonhams is very specialized in two parts. One is the monumental figure of Vajrapani, which is the largest known surviving sculpture outside of Tibet. Dating to the 13th century, the fierce protector occupied the front entrance to Ulrich and his wife Heidi’s home for 20 years. The two other works are by one of the most famous and curious artists, Choying Dorje, the 10th Karmapa (1604-1674). Both the thangka (painting) and the small composite copper figure are conceived in a style that is wholly unique to Choying Dorje. Both works are inscribed with his name and have been subject to intense scholarly research and debate over the past decade.What are your thoughts on the state of the Southeast Asian art market this year? How do you think it will develop?There is enormous potential in the Southeast Asian art market for both antiquity and modern and contemporary. There is such a diversity to the material culture from this region, from prehistoric, ethnographic, classical Buddhist and Hindu, animist, and all the way to cutting-edge contemporary. With so many different stakeholders who are fiercely nationalist, as well as those pursuing cross border connections, the market will continue to evolve and build in a unique manner. In addition, the rising interest from mainland collectors, alongside the close association with European collectors, indicate that the market will continue to grow.The demand for Himalayan art and bronzes rocketed last year, performing particularly well at auction — despite the Chinese market “cool down.” Could it be a safer investment? What’s the market like for it this year?I do not like to suggest that any work of art is a good investment measured against other fields. It is all about quality, and as long as the supply of fresh-to-market high quality material continues to appear, demand will continue to push prices up. I believe this year remains positive from the results I see New York, London, Paris, and Hong Kong sales.How would you profile art buyers and collectors interested in Himalayan Buddhist treasures? What would you say is the demographic for this market?A very diverse group, to say the least. I am constantly surprised by the approach of buyers, both young and old, who have a very specific motivation for collecting. From religious practitioners to hedge fund managers (there are instances when a collector is both) or those simply inspired by the visual beauty and quality of the art – the door is open to all.What advice would you give to new collectors interested in Himalayan art?Focus on quality and find an area that you can develop a real passion for. Ensure that you purchase from and work with auction houses and dealers who guarantee the art they are offering. Read, read, read; look, look, look, and ask questions of those specialists and scholars you can gain access to. There is no shortcut for experience, and with experience you can make the right choices. Of course mistakes will be made along the way and it is important use those instances to learn.The Bonhams “Images of Devotion” sale will take place on November 29 in Hong Kong.
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