A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A LAMA TIBET, CIRCA 15TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A LAMA TIBET, CIRCA 15TH CENTURY Seated in dhy?nasana upon a double-lotus base, this finely cast gilt bronze figure depicts a lama in serene contemplation. The hands are held before the chest in a gesture of teaching (dharmachakra mudra), suggesting the turning of the Wheel of the Law and identifying the subject as a revered spiritual master engaged in expounding doctrine. The face is sensitively modelled with gently arched brows, half-closed eyes, and a subtle smile, conveying inward composure and spiritual authority. Elongated earlobes frame the rounded visage, while the hair is closely rendered beneath a smooth cranial contour, now worn to a warm golden sheen. The figure is clad in monastic robes that fall in rhythmic, finely incised folds across the shoulders and legs. The hems are enriched with delicate engraved borders of scrolling motifs, demonstrating the refinement of Tibetan metalwork of the period. Traces of original fire gilding remain across the face, hands and feet, contrasting with the deep, lustrous patina that has developed over centuries, particularly across the torso and reverse. Subtle areas of turquoise oxidation further attest to the bronze’s age and material authenticity. The double-lotus pedestal is crisply articulated, its layered petals radiating in orderly symmetry above a beaded band. The underside is sealed with a fitted plate engraved with a stylised vajra motif, a traditional consecration symbol signifying the sacred empowerment of the image. Such sealed bases indicate that the sculpture would originally have contained relics or mantras, affirming its ritual function within a monastic or private devotional setting. Bronze images of lamas held particular importance in Tibetan Buddhism, serving both as devotional icons and as commemorative portraits of esteemed teachers. The restrained elegance of the modelling, the balanced proportions, and the refined surface treatment are characteristic of 15th-century Tibetan casting, a period noted for its harmonious synthesis of Nepalese-derived sculptural traditions and indigenous stylistic developments. A work of spiritual gravity and sculptural poise, this gilt bronze lama embodies the devotional artistry and technical accomplishment of early Tibetan Buddhist metalwork. Height: 20 cm Weight: 2.1 kg Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Hong Kong Collection, formed between the 1980s – 2020’s

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