A GILT AND RED LACQUERED BRONZE FIGURE OF VAJRADHARA, LATE QING DYNASTY TO REPUBLIC PERIOD

A GILT AND RED LACQUERED BRONZE FIGURE OF VAJRADHARA, LATE QING DYNASTY TO REPUBLIC PERIOD

Sino-Tibetan, 1850-1949. Well cast as the primordial Buddha seated in vajraparyankasana on a double-lotus pedestal, his hands depicted crossed at the wrists before the chest. Clad in a dhoti neatly gathering below his feet, richly adorned with ornate beaded jewelry inlaid with turquoises. His face with a serene expression, downcast eyes, gently arched brows, white rectangular urna, red lips, and long pendulous ears, the blue hair tied in a high chignon and surmounted by a vajra, behind the foliate tiara.

The base sealed and incised with a double vajra.

Provenance: From a Czech private collection.
Condition: Good condition with expected old wear, few nicks and dents, light scratches, wear to the gilt and pigments, and casting flaws. Some of the inlaid turquoise beads lost, some may be later replacements. Some of the lacquer may have been renewed at some point in time.

Weight: 4.9 kg
Dimensions: Height 31.8 cm

Vajradhara, the Adi-Buddha, is the primordial source from which all wisdom and compassion originate and is often regarded by the Sarma schools of Tibetan Buddhism to be the precursor of all spiritual lineages. In his restful appearance, Vajradhara portrays the blissful sensation that comes from experiencing the dharma, while also presenting his own body as a visual aid for the contemplation and enjoyment of practitioners.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 15 November 2011, lot 3499
Price: USD 5,625 or approx. EUR 7,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt bronze figure of a bodhisattva, Tibeto-Chinese, 19th/early 20th century
Expert remark: Compare the similar pose and turquoise inlays. Note the much smaller size (16.6 cm) and unsealed base.