Tibet, various lamas (19)

Circa 14th century?, Tibet, lama, gilt copper alloy, item nº 59825 on HAR, at the Capital Museum in Beijing (China).

The poor quality of the picture makes it difficult to know what decoration is at the front of the stepped throne but we can see a lion at each corner. Dressed in monastic garb that includes an outer garment with a floral motif and a rice-grain pattern along the border, this teacher makes the ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘ gesture with his hands, like the following figure.

Circa 15th-16th century, Tibet, lama, copper alloy, 10,2 cm, private collection, Fine Asian Works of Art lot 320, 17th December 2018, Bonhams (San Francisco).

16th century, Tibet, lama, bronze with silver and copper inlay, 17,3 cm, private collection, Fine Asian Art Auction 819 lot 37, 7th December 2023, Nagel

Instead of the usual waistcoat, this one wears a meditation strap across his chest.

16th century, (Tibet), lama, brass with silver and copper inlay, size not given, photo on wisdomlib, at the Patan Museum (Nepal).

A Kagyu lama seated on an antelope skin atop a double-lotus base, his left hand cupped to hold a vase of longevity, the other displaying the gesture of debate.

Late 14th or early 15th century, Tibet, Kagyu lama, gilt bronze plaque, 16 cm, private collection, Indian & Southeast Asian Art lot 1399, 20th March 2009, Christie’s

This lama seated on a lotus throne is flanked by elephants supporting jewel-spitting sharabhas who hold the crossbar on which jewel-spitting makaras form an arch with their tail, with a garuda at the apex.

17th-18th century, Tibet, lama, gilt bronze, 13,3 cm, private collection, Asian Art lot 1154, 30th November 2023, Sotheby’s

The clothes and posture of this elderly man would normally correspond to an arhat but he holds a rosary in his left hand and it looks as if he may have had a vajra sceptre in the right one. None of the sixteen elders normally holds either of these attributes.

Tibet, various lamas (18)

15th century, Tibet, (clay on a wooden armature), photo on Alex B, at the Gyantse stupa (Tibet).

15th-16th century, Tibet, lama, possibly Langtangpa Dorje Senge, bronze, 10,2 cm, The Moke Mokotoff Collection, lot 379, 13th September 2023, Christie’s

16th-17th century, Tibet, Shakya lama, bronze, 16,5 cm, Asian Art Auction A207AS lot 110, 28th November 2023, Koller

Circa 14th century, Tibet, lama, wood, A207AS as before, lot 125, Koller.

17th-18th century, Tibet, lama, gilt bronze, 17 cm, private collection, Fine Chinese Works of Art lot 455, 24th May 2023, Woolley and Wallis.

18th century, Tibet, lama, gilt copper alloy cast and repoussé, 26 cm, private collection, Auction 814 lot 148, Nagel.

The voluminous silk garments and the brocaded cushions correspond to a hierarch, possibly a dalai lama (the facial features are reminiscent of various sculptures of the fifth dalai lama seen previously).

Tibet, various lamas (17)

Circa 14th century, Tibet, lama, copper alloy, 23 cm, private collection, Indian and Himalayan Art lot 127, 21st March 2023, Sotheby’s

Circa 14th century, Tibet, Kagyu hierarch, copper alloy, 10 cm, private collection, Himalayan and Indian Art Online lot 811, 11th December 2022, Bonhams (Paris).

This monk, wearing felt boots and a meditation cloak, holds a rosary in his right hand.

16th-17th century, Tibet, kagyu lama, gilt bronze, 11,8 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 67, 15th June 2023, Sotheby’s (Paris).

17th-18th century, Tibet, lama, gilt bronze, 15,9 cm, private collection, Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Works of Art, lot 330, 22nd March 2023, Christie’s.

A singular lotus seat made of two parts in a completely different style: the narrow upper part has plain flat petals going upwards and a row of small beading around the edge, the broader lower part has large swollen ones with a curly tip, going downwards and resting on a plain base with no beading on the edge.

18th century, Tibet or Bhutan, kagyu Lama, copper alloy, 12,5 cm, private collection, Asian Art at Bruun Rasmussen lot 73, 29th November 2022, Bonhams (Copenhagen).

This teacher in monkish garb holds a jewel in his left hand.

Tibet, lamas and their hands (7)

16th century, Tibet, lama, bronze with cold gold, 10,6 cm, private collection, Art d’Asie lot 175, 16th December 2022, Christie’s (Paris).

Seated on a lotus base engraved with Lantsa script, this smiling man wears a vest with an effigy of his master on the breast and a patched robe with a floral motif. His hands are cupped in the gesture of meditation. We have seen a few similar brass works with Lantsa script around the plinth.

18th century, Tibet, lama, gilt bronze repoussé, 27,7 cm, private collection, Asian Art lot 245, 7th December 2022, Bonhams (Sydney).

This one is seated on three cushions covered with a cloth decorated with a visvajra at the front. His right hand makes the gesture of debate/teaching.

1642-1720, Tibet, teacher, bronze, scan nº 520 in the Huntington Archives, at the Tibet House in New Delhi (India).

The piercing gaze and frowning eyebrows give this teacher a sullen countenance. He has both hands over his knees and his legs unlocked. His garments are richly engraved with a floral and scrolling vine motif.

Unlabelled (15th century?, Tibet, lamas, painted clay over a wooden armature), photo on Active Planet Travels  at the Gyantse Kumbum (Tibet).

Tibet, lamas with bare feet

15th century, Tibet, ‘Tha’ dkar pa, brass, 16,6 cm, at the gTsug Lakhang in Lhasa, inventory nº 432, photo and details on Ulrich von Schroeder

Seated in the vajra position, his feet uncovered, this teacher is making the ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘ gesture with his hands quite apart. His monastic garments have a richly embroidered border with a floral motif.

15th century, Tibet, lama, gilt copper alloy, 22 cm, private collection, photo and detailed footnotes by Jing Wen on Bonhams.

On this sculpture, we will note the artist’s humorous addition of two left toes peeping from under the lama’s robe, which is a rare feature.

15th-16th century, Tibet, lama, parcel-gilt bronze, 14,5 cm, private collection, Fine Chinese Art lot 196, 12th may 2022, Bonhams (London).

Quite a different countenance for this character, who holds a long-life vase in his left hand while making the gesture of debate with the other.

Tibet, lamas and their hands

13th century, Tibet, monk, brass (with copper inlay), 13,9 cm, Jokhang/gTsug Lakhang collection, Lhasa, inventory nº 452, photo and details on Ulrich von Schroeder

Dressed in full monastic garb including a meditation cloak with a lotus print, one foot sticking out and displaying a thick felt boot, this smiling character has his right hand over his leg and the other in the air as if to clutch an attribute now missing.

Circa 14th century, Tibet, Kagyu lama, copper alloy with silver-inlaid eyes, 64 cm, private collection, photo on Bonhams

A teacher with a piercing gaze – cleverly rendered through the use of silver inlay – and both hands over his knees. He has a manuscript tucked into his robe, which covers his feet completely. Those plump cushions with rounded edges were popular during the 13th and 14th century.

15th century, Tibet, lama, bronze with traces of cold gold, 14,2 cm, private collection, photo on Bonhams (London).

The left hand is in the gesture of meditation, the other in the gesture of debate/teaching. He has a large folded object tucked into his robe, unfortunately the cataloguer does not say what it may be. A closer view on the above link shows that it is decorated with a stippled lotus pattern. The border of his garments is incised with a scrolling lotus motif.

16th century, Tibet, Nyingmapa, gilt bronze, 16 cm, private collection, Asian Art lot 3098, 2nd December 2021, Poly Auction (Hong Kong).

‘Turning the wheel of dharma’ with his hands apart.

Tibet, lamas on double lotus base (3)

Circa 13th century, Tibet, monk, brass (with copper inlay), 13,7 cm, Jokhang/gTsug Lakhang collection, Lhasa, inventory nº 536(B), photo and details on Ulrich von Schroeder

Circa 13th century, Tibet, monk, brass, 22,1 cm, Jokhang/gTsug Lakhang collection, Lhasa, inventory nº 866, photo and details on Ulrich von Schroeder

13th-14th century, Tibet, monk, brass (with copper beading), 15,4 cm, Jokhang/gTsug Lakhang collection, Lhasa, inventory nº 741, photo and details on Ulrich von Schroeder

12th-13th century, Tibet, monk, brass (with copper and silver inlay), 19,2 cm, Jokhang/gTsug Lakhang collection, Lhasa, inventory nº 571, photo and details on Ulrich von Schroeder

 

Tibet, lamas and their hands (5)

Circa 1386, Tibet, Densatil, lama, Dorje Gyalpo Phagmo Drupa?, gilt bronze, Fig. 191 in Jean-Luc Estournel ‘s catalogue raisonné.

Seated on a cushion with his legs locked, this Tibetan teacher is ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘ with his hands. He wears monkish garb but no meditation cloak.

16th century, Tibet, lama, (parcel-gilt) silver, private collection, photo on HAR

This one has both hands in the meditation gesture to hold a manuscript. There is a meditation strap across his bare chest and a cloak covers his shoulders.

16th century, Central Tibet, lama, bronze with copper-inlaid strap and silver-inlaid eyes, private collection, Asian Ceramics and Works of Art lot 430, 10th May 2000, Christie’s, Amsterdam.

Probably made in a Tsang province workshop, this sculpture depicts a Tibetan teacher making the gesture of debate with his right hand.

16th century, Tibet, lama, bronze with copper inlay, private collection, Fine Chinese Art lot 185, 11th November 2010, Bonhams, London.

17th-18th century, Tibet, lama, bronze with silver inlay, private collection, Asian Ceramics and Works of Art lot 420, 24th November 2013, Bonhams, Hong Kong.

Two lamas making the ‘calling Earth to witness’ gesture with their right hand.

Tibet, lamas and their hands (4)

17th century, Tibet, lama, rhinoceros horn with cold gold and pigments, turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, and shell (mother of pearl), item IM.136-1910 at the V&A in London (UK).

An exceptionally rare sculpture of a lama with richly decorated monastic garments, his hands in the gesture of meditation. He may have held an attribute now lost.

17th-18th century, Tibet, lama, gilt and polychrome wood, private collection, auction 1812 lot 322, 21st March 2007, Christie’s.

Like the 5th Dalai Lama, this elderly character is depicted with a phur.bu tucked into his belt. He is swathed in Chinese silk garments and has both hands over his knees.

Circa 18th century, Tibet, lama, copper (alloy?), item R.14367 at the Indian Museum in Kolkata (India).

This is the first time we see a Tibetan teacher with his hands joined together before his heart as if to hold a wish-granting gem, a gesture made by various forms of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.

Circa 18th century, Tibet, lama, polychrome papier mâché, auction 796 lot 178, 23rd June 2021, Nagel.

A classic hand position: the right hand makes the gesture of debate (tip of forefinger on tip of thumb), the other is cupped to hold an object, probably a manuscript, now lost.

13th century or earlier, Tibet, lama, gilt silver, private collection, Guardian Fine Art Asia, 28th May 2014, Rossi & Rossi.

A man in layman’s clothes and an elegantly knotted belt, his hands in the same position as most sculptures of the historical buddha: the right hand ‘calling Earth to witness’ and the other in the gesture of meditation. The treatment of the hair and the face are quite peculiar.

17th century, Tibet, Buddhist Adept, silver, private collection, photo on Sotheby’s

Seated in a relaxed manner with a foot sticking out of his richly incised meditation cloak, this character makes the gesture of knowledge with his left hand (like the gesture of debate but upside down).

Tibet, lamas with attributes (7)

16th century, Tibet, Drugpa Kagyu lama, gilt bronze (with cold gold and pigments), private collection, Indian & Southeast Asian Art lot 121, 25th March 2004, Christie’s.

This Tibetan teacher holds a round flaming jewel on a double-lotus base in his hands joined in the gesture of meditation.

17th century, Tibet, lama, possibly Kunga Tashi, clay with pigments and cold gold, private collection, item S2020.5.6 at the Arthur M. Sackler gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC (USA).

A life-like portrait of a lama in monkish garb holding a vajra sceptre in his right hand, with the fingers making a gesture to keep evil away, and a vajra bell in the other, both pointing towards him.

15th-16th century, Tibet, Sakya lama, copper alloy with copper inlay, private collection, photo on Bonhams, London

This one holds the same attributes in his hands crossed over his heart.

18th century, Tibet, lama, possibly Namkha Dorje, item MEF CF 4684 at the Museu de les Cultures del Mon in Barcelona (Spain).

An important personage with a yogic strap across his chest, seated on an antelope skin spread over a blanket that wraps a couple of brocaded cushions, his right hand making the gesture of debate, the other supporting a long-life vase. Unlike the other three his feet are showing.

18th-19th century, Tibet, monk, silver, private collection, photo on Sotheby’s

This elderly man with a prominent topknot holds a vajra sceptre and a skull cup.