Page 40 - 2021 March 16th Indian, Himalayan and Tibetan Art, Bonhams NYC New York

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A GILT COPPER ALLOY TRIAD OF PADMASAMBHAVA
AND HIS CONSORTS, MANDARAVA AND YESHE TSOGYAL
TIBET, CIRCA 16TH CENTURY
Himalayan Art Resources item no.35901
11 7.8 in. (30.1 cm) high
$40,000 - 60,000

西藏 約十六世紀 銅鎏金蓮花生大士與曼達拉娃及益西措嘉像

This rare ensemble pays tribute to the Indian teacher Padmasambhava, also known in Tibet
as Pemajunge, meaning “the Lotus Born”. Padmasambhava is credited with introducing
Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century. He is also the root guru of the Nyingma order, who regard
him as the ‘second buddha’ and maintain he planted treasure teachings (terma) throughout the
Himalayas to be discovered when the world is ready.

According to traditional biographies, Padmasambhava was miraculously born in the center of
a lotus blossom on Lake Danakosha, which this sculpture clearly aims to visualize. He is joined
by his two consorts and close disciples, each smaller and seated on a lotus flower stemming
from the same root as his. His first consort, Mandarava, was a princess from Himachal Pradesh
in India. His second, Yeshe Tsogyal, was from an aristocratic family in Central Tibet. Tsogyal,
whose name means “Victor of the Lake”, is considered the first Tibetan to have achieved
buddhahood in a single lifetime. She was also charged with hiding many of his teachings.
Padmasambhava slightly tilts his head as both consorts lean their bodies towards the center,
creating a harmonious image.

A closely related triad of the same subject displays similar robes and broad petals (HAR 9224).
A gilt bronze figure just of Padmasambhava in the Victoria and Albert Museum (IM.240-1922)
also shares a similar lotus base with wide petals and plain upper rim. A larger example of the
guru wears an almost identical conical hat (Sotheby’s, New York, 12 September 2018, lot 272).
Also see another figure of Padmasambhava sold at Bonhams, Hong Kong, 26 November 2019,
lot 12.

Provenance
Private American Collection, acquired in Hong Kong, 2010

38 | BONHAMS