Page 42 - September 20th 2021, Indian and Himalayan Art Christie's NYC

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A RARE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF DÜSUM KHYENPA, 西藏 十六世紀 鎏金銅第一世噶瑪巴・杜松虔巴像
FIRST KARMAPA
TIBET, 16TH CENTURY 來源:
入藏自Vallin 藝廊，康涅狄格州。
7¡ in. (18.7 cm.) high
$80,000-120,000

PROVENANCE:
Acquired from Vallin Galleries, Connecticut.
LITERATURE:
Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 24672.

This highly individualized gilt-bronze portrait is identified by inscription
as the First Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193). Founder of the
Karma brand of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the Karmapa
was Tibet’s first consciously incarnating lama, as the First Karmapa
believed to have foretold his future incarnations. The figure would have
had particular significance in the sixteenth century, when the present
lot was produced, as the Karmapas held esteem as the teachers of the
Ming dynasty (1368-1644) emperors of China.
The First Karmapa is portrayed here seated upon a cushioned double
lotus base in voluminous robes delicately incised with floral motifs.
His face is pigmented with plump, bow-shaped red lips, white eyes
outlined in burgundy, and faded black pigments employed at the
pupils and arched brows. The face reveals high cheekbones and a
prominently modeled chin, which is consistent with other painted and
sculpted portraits of the First Karmapa; compare the present figure to
a sixteenth century painting of Düsum Khyenpa with his teacher Lord
Gampopa (1079-1153) from a Karma Kagyu lineage set (Himalayan Art
Resources, item no. 561) with similarly exaggerated facial features.
Most distinctively, Düsum Khyenpa is depicted wearing the Black
Crown, an important symbol of the Karmapa, signifying his power to
benefit all sentient beings. According to legend, in a former incarnation
as a yogi, the Karmapa attained the eighth bhumi of enlightenment
and 100,000 dakinis crafted the black crown out of their own hair to
recognize his accomplishment.

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