Page 16 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art September 2013

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A gilt copper alloy figure of Vajradhara
Tibet, 15th century
Seated on a lotus throne in padmasana, wearing a patterned dhoti tied at the back, his hands in
dharmacakrapavartina fostering lotus stems that blossom at his shoulders presenting the vajra
and ghanta, bedecked with jewelry of inset turquoise, a festoon with central coral pendant, and a
complementing inset turqouise urna centering his benign expression surmounted by a five-tiered
crown with central kirtimukha mask and flanking ribbons before hair tied in a high chignon and
topped with a jewel.
10 1/2 in. (26.5 cm) high
$40,000 - 60,000
Vajradhara is the supreme primordial Buddha representing the quintessence of Buddhahood in
the Gelug and Kagyu schools. Achieving a ‘state of vajradhara’ is synonymous with complete
realization.
For a related example in the Newark Museum Collection, see Rhie and Thurman, Wisdom and
Compassion, 1991, pl. 147, p. 357. Also compare the similar treatment of the crown and jewelry to
a Vajradhara sold at Sotheby’s New York, 20 September 2005, lot 26.

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