Page 120 - Bonhams NYC Portraits of the Masters Bronzes march 2017

3293
A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF THE FIRST PANCHEN LAMA,
LOBSANG CHOKYI GYALTSEN PELZANGPO
TIBET, 17TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.2283
10 3/4 in. (27.5 cm) high

US$200,000 - 300,000

西藏 十七世紀 銅鎏金一世班禪喇嘛羅桑卻吉堅贊像

Before the influence of photorealism in thangkas, these extraordinary sculptures of the
First Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen Pelzangpo (1567-1662), detailing his
high cheekbones and cranial dome, arguably represent the zenith of realism in Tibetan
portraiture.

The bronze is one of the best sculptures of the First Panchen Lama, on par with the
Capital Museum’s in Beijing, which identifies him by inscription (see Gems of Beijing
Cultural Relics Series: Buddhist Statues (I), Beijing, 1999, pp.197-9, no.165). The two
also share similar hand gestures, robes, and plump, pointed lotus petals with incised
edges.

Especially compelling are his intriguing smile, articulated fingers, and sophisticated
textiles. The lotus petals are extraordinarily bold and large, more than a third of the
bronze’s overall height, and confer an almost overbearing assertion of his authority. All
the while, the eye is drawn back to his unusual face gazing back, his head titled slightly
downwards from on high.

Lobsang Chokyi was the tutor of the great Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso
(1617-1682) who unified Tibet in the 17th century. Gyatso established the Panchen Lama
(‘Great Teacher’) incarnate line, conferring it the second highest rank after the Dalai Lama,
and making its incarnations the masters of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. He also declared
Lobsang Chokyi and the Panchen Lama line an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha.

The First Panchen Lama is remembered for broad spiritual and diplomatic achievements.
By the age of 31 he was already an abbot of several major monasteries including the
Tashilhunpo, Wensa, and Gangchen Chopel, and later established the tantric college
Tashilhunpo Gyupa Dratsang. He also played a constructive role in Bhutanese-Tibetan
affairs as Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel founded the fledging sovereign Bhutanese
nation (see lot 3248 for more information).

Published
Portraits of the Masters, pp.316-9, no.89.
Marylin Rhie and Robert Thurman, A Shrine for Tibet, New York, 2009, p.27, fig.16.
Matthew Akester, Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo’s Guide to Central Tibet, Chicago, 2016,
p. 447.

Published & Exhibited
Monasterios y Lamas del Tibet, pp.210-1, no.180.

Provenance
Christie’s, Amsterdam, 21 November 1990, lot 266

118 | BONHAMS