Page 129 - 2019 September 11th Christie's New York Chiense Art Himalayan bronzes and art

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A POLYCHROMED WOOD FIGURE
OF PADMASAMBHAVA
TIBET OR BHUTAN, 17TH CENTURY
15º in. (38.7 cm.) high

$35,000-45,000

PROVENANCE
Acquired in Hong Kong, 1993, by repute.
The circa eighth-century progenitor of Vajrayana
Buddhism in Tibet sits atop a lotus blossoming
from a long-life vase. He holds a vajra and a skull-
cup topped with a long-life vase (Tib. tsebum),
and dons the identifying lotus hat topped with
a vulture’s feather. While his facial features are
somewhat exaggerated, his hands and the folds
in his many-layered garments are carved with
great skill.

Small traces of bright polychrome throughout
the otherwise darkened surface are indicative of
the original state of this sculpture, which would
have been brightly painted and enlivened by wide,
bright white eyes.
Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 24559.

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