ADMIRALTY, HONG KONG — An imposing brass figure of Canda Vajrapani from the collection of Ulrich von Schroeder set a new world record price for a Tibetan sculpture at auction when it attained $6,351,479 at Bonhams’ Images of Devotion auction November 29. After a nine-minute bidding battle in a packed auction room, the figure was sold to an Asian collector. In total, the sale made more than $14,182,275.

At more than a meter tall, the monumental figure of Canda Vajrapani (translates to “fierce holder of the thunderbolt”) is a choice example of Thirteeenth Century Tibetan sculpture and an important surviving Tibetan brass sculpture of any period.

Another noteworthy item from Schroeder’s collection, a copper composite figure of Vajrapani and Kubera by the Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje (1604–1674), went out within estimate for $1,940,000. This work, which bears the hallmarks of Choying Dorje’s whimsical style and iconography, has been in the von Schroeder collection for more than 20 years.

Commenting on the sale, Bonhams’ Global Head of Indian, Himalayan Art and Southeast Asian Art, Edward Wilkinson, said, “Ulrich von Schroeder is rightly regarded as the pre-eminent scholar in the field of Tibetan sculpture. This opportunity to acquire pieces from his personal collection led to intense competition in the saleroom and on the telephone and online. The stunning price paid for the figure of Canda Vajrapani reflects both its high importance as a work of art and von Schroeder’s great standing among collectors.”

Other highlights included a large gilt copper figure of Avalokiteshvara, Nepal, Thakuri period, Tenth Century brought $2,020,000 to a collector in the United States and a gilt copper alloy shrine to Vajrabhairava, Tibet, Eighteenth Century far exceeded estimate to earn $520,000.

All prices reported include the buyer’s premium and were converted at presstime from Hong Kong dollars to US dollars.

For more information, www.bonhams.com or +852 2918 4321.