Page 44 - Christies Indian and Himalayan Art Sept 2015

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A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A GELUGPA ABBOT, POSSIBLY
THE FIFTH DALAI LAMA
TIBET, 17TH CENTURY

Heavily gilt and seated in dhyanasana on a thick square cushion
with his right hand in vitarkamudra and his left hand resting in
his lap, wearing a heavy pleated cape over patchwork robes, his
rounded face with an intense gaze and wearing a pointed cap
with overhanging lappets
5º in. (13.4 cm.) high

$60,000-80,000

PROVENANCE:

Private collection, London, acquired by 2007

PUBLISHED:

Himalayan Art Resource (himalayanart.org),
item no. 23951

While not identifed by inscription, this fgure is very
closely related to an inscribed late 17th century gilt
bronze fgure of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama at the
Rose Art Museum of Brandeis University (M. Rhie

and R. Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion: The
Sacred Art of Tibet, New York, 1991, pp.272-73,
no.98). In particular, compare the full rounded
faces with incised eyes, wide noses and thin
pursed lips, as well as the heavy pleated robes
and square cushion.
The Great Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang
Losang Gyatso (1617-82), is one of the
most remarkable characters in Tibetan
history. He was a capable statesman,
author of numerous books, and an
accomplished yogic practitioner.
Although trained by Gelugpa clerics,
he had a strong affnity for teachings
of the Nyingmapa lineage of
Tibetan Buddhism.

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