Page 22 - Indian and Himilayan Art

VARIOUS PROPERTIES This work has a very extensive inscription encircling the
bottom of the base, which translates as follows:
218
A SILVER- AND COPPER-INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF By the assistance of the best virtue, and with the
LOWO KENCHEN SONAM LHUNDRUB help of the understanding of the complete meanings
TIBET, 15TH/16TH CENTURY of buddha’s teachings, Leg pei jun nas who practice
to understand the insight meaning of Mahayana,
The base with two inscriptions I pray to and prostrate to his feet and blessed all
8æ in. (22.2 cm.) high the times.

$35,000-45,000 A second inscription is visible at the front edge of the top of
the base, just past the lama’s robes, which gives his name
PROVENANCE: (glo bo mkhan chen bsod nams lhun grub).

Acquired in New York in 2011. Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub (glo bo mkhan chen bsod
nams lhun grub, 1456-1532) was born into the ruling house
PUBLISHED: of Lo Montang (glo mon thang, also known as Mustang). He
was dedicated to the religious life from infancy, receiving
Himalayan Art Resource (himalayanart.org), item no. 24162 transmissions and teachings of empowerment from famous
teachers throughout his childhood. He eventually became
the abbot at Tubten Dargyeling for twelve years, and then
moved to Ngor Monastery in Tibet. He ultimately returned to
Lo, where he continued to propagate the Ngor tradition of the
Sakya teachings through writing and ritual instruction there
and in neighboring kingdoms. For his complete bibliography,
see Himalayan Art Resources (himalayanart.org).

Compare this fgure with a similar example from The Sporer
Collection (illustrated below). Both have silver- and copper-
inlaid eyes and copper lips, and hold lotuses bearing the
book and sword, connecting their lineage to Manjushri. The
present example is larger than the Sporer example, with a
much more extensive inscription. The quality of the casting,
the inclusion of inlaid silver and copper, and the substantial
size, indicates Sonam Lhundrub was an important teacher
worthy of such a fne portrait.

A silver- and copper-inlaid bronze fgure of a lama,

16th century, Tibet, 5√ in. (15 cm.) high
Christie’s New York on 15 September 2015, lot 28,
sold for $75,000