
11th-12th century, Tibet, Vajrapani, bronze, 14 cm, aureole possibly slightly later, private collection, photo on Koller
Wrathul Vajrapani standing on a singular pedestal with a large lotus flower at the centre, brandishing a vajra sceptre in his right hand and making a wrathful gesture with the other, adorned with snakes, including on his ears. His hair forms a naga hood behind his low Pala-style three-leaf tiara. His loin cloth (usually the whole skin of a tiger) has no animal head, legs, or tail showing.

Circa 14th century, Tibet, Vajrapani, brass, 15 cm, private collection, photo on Koller
This one comes complete with a vajra lasso wound around his forefinger. He wears a human hide on his back, which is unusual for this deity (yet we can see a hand hanging over his right arm), a tiger skin knotted around his belly, a Chinese-style cross-belt with jewelled pendants, writhing snakes, a five-skull crown with three jewels and a half-vajra on top of each skull, floral earrings and a matching necklace. He crushes two victims with no snakes under them.

14th century, Tibet, Vajrapani, wood with traces of gilding and red paint, 8,5 cm, private collection, same as before, lot 505, photo on Koller
It is most unusual for the tarjani mudra (forefinger raised, other fingers closed) to be made with the back of the hand facing the viewer.

17th century, Tibet, Vajrapani, gilt metal, private collection, photo on HAR
Almost identical to a Mongolian-style figure seen on Christie’s (see photo here ), the above depicts a variant of chanda Vajrapani who points sideways with his left hand. He has a very large tiger skin around his waist, another hide on his back, a leonine face in his mitre-like flaming hair, and is adorned with a skull crown, bone jewellery, a Chinese-style cross-belt, a long snake, and a garland of severed heads.