A large gilt-bronze repousse figure of Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi

19th century

19th century
Both standing in pratiyalida, embracing with slightly wrathful faces, his primary arms wrapped around his consort, the others outstretched holding various attributes, wearing a beaded sash and garlands of skulls and severed heads with an tiger-skin over his back, trampling Kalaratri on the left and Bhairava on the right, both figures adorned in beaded jewellery and crowns, all supported on a lotus base. 55cm (21 5/8in) high. (5).

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Chakrasamvara is the principal transformational deity (yiddam) of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also the focal deity of the main tantra of the Anuttarayoga Wisdom classification of Buddhism, symbolising the fulfilment of Wisdom and Compassion when blissfully embracing his consort. From Chakrasamvara's neck hangs a garland of severed heads, signifying the purification of speech and the mental factors according to the Chittamatra or Mind-Only School as described by Asanga. A related figure of Chakrasamvara and consort from the Yonghe Temple, Beijing, is illustrated by Du Jianye in Yonghegong: Palace of Harmony, Hong Kong, 1993, p.127. A related but earlier gilt bronze figure of Chakrasamvara and consort, 18th century, in the Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, acc.no.M.2010.1.44.S.

A similar but much smaller gilt-bronze figure of Chakrasamvara and consort, 18th century, was sold at Bonhams London, 11 May 2017, lot 106.