Page 109 - Bonhams NYC Portraits of the Masters Bronzes march 2017

3285 The bronze is an inspired example of the Tsang style, most likely of
A SILVER INLAID BRASS ALLOY FIGURE OF A LAMA Gyantse, being brassy, non-gilt, profusely incised, and bearing the
TIBET, 15TH/16TH CENTURY slender curled lotus petals influenced by the Ming imperial style, which
Himalayan Art Resources item no.2340 was introduced into Tibet through diplomatic gift exchange. As evident
8 1/4 in. (21 cm) high in the Portaits of the Masters Collection, Sakya lamas dominate Tsang
style production and the figure might also be Sakya Pandita (1182-
US$40,000 - 60,000 1251), who won his order the patronage of the Yuan court.

西藏 十五／十六世紀 銅錯銀喇嘛像 Published
Portraits of the Masters, pp.312-3, no.86.
His eccentric portrait is enlivened with silver-inlaid eyes below raised
eyebrows and a tall pointed hat. His fingers are long, elegant, and Published & Exhibited
precise. The wisdom sword and book lead Dinwiddie to identify him as Monasterios y Lamas del Tibet, p.213, no.182.
Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the famous founder of the Gelug order and
emanation of Manjushri, but a number of important lamas from various Provenance
orders are given these attributes, so it is difficult to distinguish them Christie’s, Amsterdam, 23 October 1991, lot 130
without an inscription. The attribution nonetheless remains very likely.

PORTRAITS OF THE MASTERS: 108 BRONZE SCULPTURES OF THE TIBETAN BUDDHIST LINEAGES: | 107