Nepal, various bodhisattvas (2)

Circa 13th-14th century, Nepal or Tibet, bodhisattva, gilt copper repoussé part from a halo, 16 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lots 38 and 39, 12th June 2021, Cornette de Saint-Cyr on aaoarts.

15th-16th century, Nepal or Tibet, Seated Bodhisattva, gilt bronze, photo on Global Nepali Museum inventory nº TC-1 at the Tokyo National Museum (Japan).

17th century, Nepal, bodhisattva (labelled ‘Vajrapani with Candamaharoshana), gilt bronze with stone inlay, 19,5 cm, photo on wisdomlib, at the National Museum of Nepal in Kathmandu.

This male figure with a princely appearance holds the stem of a lotus with an upright vajra sceptre emerging from its centre (see close up on above link) and makes the fear-allaying gesture with the other. Peaceful Vajrapani normally has two eyes, the above has three, and when depicted in a standing posture he holds his attribute in one of his hands. This is perhaps a local variant? The yaksha attendant next to him is Achala/Chandamaharoshana wielding a sword in one hand and holding a noose in the other. We saw a 17th century standing bodhisattva with a yaksha attendant and a long-life vase between them on Sotheby’s

Reminder on two statues

The post below was published on 21st October 2022 in ‘A Corner about Stolen Sculptures’. See additional  information at the end. 

A year and a half later these two items have not been returned to their respective country and temple although the Art Gallery of New South Wales states below the details regarding each work (in the section ‘About’) that it is aware (since October and July 2022 respectively) these items may have been stolen. 

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For the sake of accuracy, the following statue, published in a previous post and presently at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney (Australia), was stolen from the Lang Gompa, Shey Phoksundo, Dolpo, Nepal.

Circa 13th century, Nepal, Padmapani (Avalokiteshvara), gilt copper inlaid with stones, lapis lazuli (powder), at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney (Australia).

The following work, also at the above-mentioned museum but without its original lotus pedestal (see here ), was stolen from the gTsug Lhakhang in Lhasa (Tibet).

14th-15th century, Tibet, Kalacakra, gilt copper, 30 cm, Jokhang/gTsug Lhakhang collection, Lhasa, inventory nº 16(A), photo taken in 1995 by Ulrich von Schroeder, published on Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet

Additional Information:

• The standing Avalokiteshvara was photographed in situ by Nik Douglas in 1971 at the Lang monastery, Dolpo, Nepal. The black and white picture was reproduced in Indo-Tibetan Bronzes by Ulrich von Schroeder, Visual Dharma Publications Ltd, Hong Kong, 1981, p. 167. 

 

•  The Kalachakra statue was photographed by Ulrich von Schroeder in 1995 and published online on Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet , with details clearly stating its inventory number in the Jokhang/gTsug Lhakhang collection in Lhasa.

Tibet, famous lamas (40)

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, (painted clay or wood?), Khenchen Jangchug Pelzango, Sakya Sribhadra, Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen, with recently replaced hands, photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011 on virginia.edu, in the shrine dedicated to the masters of the Second Diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet, at the Pelkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

From left to right, (Zulpu) Khenchen Jangchub Pelzangpo, a 14th century Tibetan master, Sakya Shribhadra, a 12th century Kashmiri scholar (see both on Treasury of Lives ) whose left hand originally displayed the gesture of debate (vitarka mudra), Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen, a 13th century Sakya master (see on wikipedia).

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Choki Rinchen, Gyalse Thokme, Gangchen Khepe Wangpo Kungapel, (painted clay or wood?), photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011 on virginia.edu, Sempa Shrine in the Gyantse Kumbum Stupa, at the Pelkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

Circa 16th-17th century, Tibet, Dpal ldan tshul khrims (Palden Tsultrim), brass, 16,8 cm, object nº AK-MAK-1510 at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

18th century, Tibet, Dpal ldan tshul khrims (Palden Sultrim), bronze, 19 cm, object nº AK-MAK-307 at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

We saw a group of six Sakya Lamdre lineage masters including this lama on Bonhams . These two sculptures depict him with his right hand in the gesture of debate and the left hand in meditation, with a vase of longevity in the second case (possibly missing from the first one).

16th century, Tibet, probably Rin chen phun tshogs, gilt copper with cold gold and pigment, 27,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1075 pl. 277C, at the Gser khang lha khang, Bri gung mthil (Drigung Thil) monastery (Tibet).

Rinchen Phuntsog was an important Drikung/Drigung teacher who lived during the 16th century (see drikung.org). He was a layman, hence the long-sleeve outer garment tied with a belt (note the elegant knot).

18th century, Tibet, sMin gling gter chen ‘Gyur med rdo rje (Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje), gilt copper, 10 cm, photo as before, p. 1082 pl. 281A, at the sMin grol gling (Mindroling) monastery (Tibet).

The author explains that according to an inscription at the back of the base, the founder of the Mindroling monastery is shown here at the age of 67. He holds a  long-life vase in his left hand.

Tibet, 11-head Avalokiteshvara – seated

12th-13th century, Tibet, Ekadashamukha Avalokiteshvara, brass, 21,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1097 pl. 293E, Potala Collection, Lima Lhakhang, inventory nº 1145, Lhasa (Tibet).

12th-13th century, Tibet, Ekadashamukha Avalokiteshvara, brass, 35,6 cm, photo as before, p. 1147 pl. 300C, at the Khra Brug (Tradruk) monastery, Yarlung Valley (Tibet).

13th century, Tibet, Ekadashamukha Avalokiteshvara, brass, 20,5 cm, photo as before, p. 1097 pl. 283D, at the Rwa sgreng or Ra sgreng monastery (Tibet).

Tibet, Nairatmya (5)

Undated, Tibet, Shrine to a Dakini, painted clay (?), photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, on virginia.edu, at the Drowolung monastery (Tibet).

This is very likely Nairatmya, a meditational deity whose name means ‘selflessness’, in her dakini appearance. She has three eyes, bared fangs, bristly orange hair, and wears an animal skin around her waist topped with a belt with a buckle shaped like a visvajra. She is adorned with wrathful ornaments, including a five-skull crown and a garland of skulls, and armbands and anklets with an eight-spoke wheel motif. She sits on a corpse and holds a flaying knife and a skull cup before her chest. On the prabhamandala we can see a row of vajra sceptres (around her), scrolling leaves, eight female deities, each standing on a lotus pedestal with a flaming mandorla, and a seated figure at the top, probably Naropa as abbot of Nalanda.

The Drowolung monastery was built by Marpa, the famous 11th century translator(see here ). According to Cécile Ducher on Oxfordre.com , ‘Marpa’s life can be read in light of the Hevajra tantra […] such as the name of his wife Dakmema (the Tibetan rendering of Hevajra’s consort, Nairatmya), his eight consorts (the eight goddesses in Hevajra’s mandala), the interaction with Naropa […]’.

Tibet, Prajnaparamita (8)

11th-12th century, Tibet, Prajnaparamita, brass, 22,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1140 pl. 297B, gTsug Lhakhang Collection, inventory nº 573, Lhasa (Tibet).

Early Tibetan brass works often depict Prajnaparamita in her four-arm form and standing. The above raises her upper right hand in the fear-allaying gesture. She has a vajra sceptre in her lower right hand and a manuscript in the upper left one. The lower left hand is held flat as if to support a bowl. A large lotus flower is fastened to her hip and elbow. On each side of her unusual lotus pedestal are three buddhas seated with their hands in the gesture of meditation. The rectangular platform is supported by two lions.

12th-13th century, Tibet, Prajnaparamita, brass, 17,9 cm, photo as before, p. 1144 pl. 299A, Potala Collection, Sa gsum lha khang inventory nº 453, Lhasa (Tibet).

On this rare seated version she holds the vajra sceptre upright, has a vase of longevity on her head, and a rosary in her upper right hand.

Tibet, Shakyamuni – seated (37)

Circa 12th century, Tibet, Shakyamuni, brass, 35,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1148 pl. 301A, at the Shalu monastery (Tibet).

13th century, Tibet, Buddha Shakyamuni, gilt copper, 24,5 cm, photo as before, p. 1028 pl. 254B , at the Palkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

11th-12th century, Tibet, Shakyamuni, copper alloy with a copper hem and gilding added later, 11,8 cm, private collection, Asian Art Auction A177AS lot 105, 6th June 2016, Koller.

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Shakyamuni, (painted clay?), from a photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, on virginia.edu, main image in the arhat shrine, Palkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Shakyamuni, (painted clay?), photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, on virginia.edu, main image in the arhat shrine, Palkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

Labelled ’17th-18th century, Tibeto-Chinese’ (or earlier, Tibet?), Shakyamuni, gilt bronze with copper and turquoise inlay, 9,4 cm, at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne (Australia).

Tibet, The Crowned Buddha (15)

13th-14th century, Tibet, Crowned Buddha Shakyamuni, brass, 11,6 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1156 pl. 305A, at the gTsug lha khang in the sMin grol gling (Mindroling) monastery (Tibet).

Unlike the five direction buddhas in their sambhogakaya form, the crowned Buddha always wears a monastic garment, and Tibetan portable sculptures of him rarely include any jewellery.

Circa 14th century, Tibet, Crowned Buddha Shakyamuni, brass, 26,4 cm, photo as before, p. 1155 pl. 354C , at the Palkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

15th century, Tibet, The Crowned Buddha, gilt bronze, 10,7 cm, private collection, Auction 814 China I, lot 138, 12th June 2023,  Nagel

16th-17th century, East(ern) Tibet, Crowned Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness, 27,3 cm, inventory nº AS42-1979 at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne (Australia).

Tibet, various female deities (11)

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Özerchenma enshrined in a stupa, polychrome wood, size not given, photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, on virginia.edu, at the Palkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

Özer Chenma is the Tibetan name for Marichi, the goddess of dawn and mercy. When not seated sideways on a wild boar, the two-arm form usually holds some thread and a needle.

15th century, Tibet, Gyeltsen Tsemo,  restored and repainted (clay on a wooden armature?), photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, on Virginia.edu, at the Gyeltsen Tsemo Shrine in the Palkhor Chode monastic complex, Gyantse (Tibet).

Known as Dhvajagrakeyura in Sanskrit, this meditational deity has the appearance of a yakshi with three or four heads and four to eight arms, clad in a tiger skin loin cloth and adorned with wrathful ornaments. The four-arm form holds a lasso and a sword in her right hands, a wheel and a ritual staff in the others. See more on wisdomlib

18th-19th century, Tibet, Ushnisha Sitatapatra, gilt copper alloy with cold gold and pigment, collection of the Ga-te studio, on exhibition at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

Sitatapatra with a 1000 heads (each with three eyes) 1000 arms, and 1000 feet, holding a dharma wheel in her main right hand and a parasol in the other. She stands on demons on one side and animals and deities on the other.

Tibet, Marpa Chokyi Lodro (6)

16th century, Tibet, Marpa Chokyi Lodro, gilt metal (copper alloy with pigments and turquoise inlay), private collection, photo on HAR

Images of this Tibetan teacher and translator, founder of the Kagyu school, often show him seated on one or two cushions, his hands placed over his lap, his long matted hair combed backward. Being a layman, he always wears a long-sleeve coat and usually has a meditation cloak over it, as on this sculpture that depicts a youthful Marpa frowning, adorned with large earrings and a bulky necklace, a few strands of hair falling over his shoulders.

Undated, Tibet, Marpa with attendants, material and size not given, photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, virginia.edu, at the Drowolung monastery (Tibet) (see notes on Drowolung monastery ).

Undated, Tibet, Marpa’s throne, material and size not given, photo by Dudul Dorjay, 2011, on virginia.edu, at the Drowolung monastery (Tibet).