Bronze deity doorstopper becomes a showstopper after making £85,000 at auction

ANTIQUES TRADE GAZETTE
By Laura Chesters

This bronze figure of Mahakala was being used as a doorstop in a Gloucestershire cottage. It sold for £85,000 at Mallams’ Chinese art sale in Cheltenham last week.

UNITED KINGDOM---A bronze figure of the fierce four-armed deity Mahakala that was being used as a doorstop in a Gloucestershire cottage sold for £85,000 at Mallams’ Chinese art sale in Cheltenham. Interest at the October 26 auction started at £1000. After fierce bidding from seven parties, it was knocked down to a Hong Kong buyer on the phone at £85,000, beating the underbidder who was online from China. The figure, which is on a later pine wood base, represents the Hindu and Sikh deity clutching a Vajra and skull bowl and wearing a crown of severed heads surrounded by a background of flames. [link]