Circa 13th century, Tibet, Maitreya, brass, 25,8 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1157 pl. 305B, at the Tsong dus tshogs pa (Tsongdu Tsokpa) monastery, Central Tibet.
Maitreya depicted as a bodhisattva, adorned with a crown, princely jewellery, and a sash tightly drawn across his chest in the Nepalese fashion. He is seated with his legs locked, his right hand making the fear-allaying gesture, the left one holding a branch topped with a ritual water pot (kundika).
Early 15th century, Central Tibet, Maitreya, gilt bronze with stone inlay, 21,6 cm, private collection, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art lot 513, 20th March 2024, Christie’s.
This one holds the stem of a large blossom topped with a kundika. The flowers associated with Maitreya are the nagakesara (a large four-petal flower from the naga tree – mesua ferrea in latin) and the champaka (a type of magnolia).
Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Jampa, (painted clay on a wooden armature?), photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, on virginia.edu, at the Gaden Lhakhang, Gyantse Kumbum stupa (Tibet).
Maitreya (Jampa in Tibetan) with his hands ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘.
13th century or later, Tibet, Ascetic Bodhisattva Maitreya, 24,7 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, same publication as before, p. 1150 pl. 302B, Potala Collection, Bla ma lha khang inventory nº 453, Lhasa (Tibet).
Maitreya standing on a single lotus pedestal, his hair gathered in a bunch tied with a ribbon and adorned with a stupa instead of a crown.
14th century, Tibet, Maitreya, gilt copper, 75 cm, photo as before, p. 1033 pl. 256C, at the Bri gung mthil (Drigung Thil) monastery (Tibet).
It is unusual for him to hold the flower topped with a kundika in his right hand.
12th-13th century, Tibet, Maitreya or Shakyamuni, brass with partial gilding, 16 cm, photo as before, p. 1146 pl. 300A, at the Khra Brug (Tradruk) monastery, Yarlung Valley (Tibet).
Maitreya as the future buddha, seated with both legs pendent and his hands in the dharmacakra mudra.