Tibet, Tsang Nyon Heruka (12)

Late 15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Tsang province, Tsangnyon Heruka, copper alloy, 41 cm, Jules Speelman collection lot 19, 14th June 2024, photo, close up, and notes by Alvina Ang on Bonhams (Paris).

‘The Mad Man of Tsang’ is always depicted with the appearance of a mahasiddha, with a piercing gaze and a mass of matted hair gathered in an intricately braided chignon, often topped with a half-vajra finial, or in a topknot. Usually dressed in a tiger skin dhoti and adorned with bone jewellery and a cross-belt, he sits in a relaxed manner on a lotus base and may have a meditation strap across one knee or across his chest. He sometimes has a skull cup in his right hand and a ritual staff against his left arm but in most cases he is depicted with a vajra sceptre in his right hand (missing here) and a skull cup in the other, plus the ritual staff occasionally.

This masterpiece includes a beaded tiara with five skulls topped with five leaves, the central one decorated with a buddha effigy, and some very ornate jewellery. The Tibetan master is seated on an animal skin (tiger or leopard) atop a lotus base with two lions and an upright vajra sceptre with ribbons at the front of the plinth.

Circa 16th century, Tibet, Tsangnyon Heruka, copper alloy with copper and silver inlay, 20,5 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 5, 14th June 2024, Sotheby’s (Paris).

We have seen a few examples of him without facial hair but most sculptures depict him with a moustache and a goatee.

16th century, Central Tibet, siddha, probably Tsangnyon Heruka, brass, silver, copper and stone inlay, 19,3 cm, private collection, Images of Devotion lot 1814, 1st December 2023, Bonhams (Hong Kong).

The above has his hair gathered in a plain topknot held in place with an embroidered headband. His earrings are shaped like vajra sceptres with a foliate pendant and a central cabochon now missing. Instead of an animal skin he wears a loin cloth richly incised with a floral pattern, like his meditation belt.

See biographical notes on Treasury of Lives and the Tsang Nyon Heruka Main Page on HAR

Tibet, White Tara (18)

Circa 14th century, Tibet, Nepalese schools, Tara, gilt copper, 17 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 967 pl. 233D, at the Shalu monastery (Tibet).

16th century, Tibet, Tsang province atelier, White Tara, metal (brass), private collection, photo on HAR

15th-17th century, Tibet, Tara, jade, 11 cm, private collection, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art lot 212, 2nd October 2017, China Guardian (Hong Kong).

17th century, Tibet, White Tara, bronze, 7 cm, photo on HAR, inventory nº Vp 3093 at the National Gallery in Prague (Czech Republic).

18th-19th century, Tibet, White Tara of the Seven Eyes, gilt copper alloy with stone inlay, cold gold, pigments, size not given, photo on wisdomlib, at the Patan Museum (Nepal).

Tibet, Vajradhara (18)

14th century, Tibet, Nepalese schools, Vajradhara, gilt copper, 57 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 963 pl. 231E , at the Zhwa lu monastery (Shalu) in Tibet.

1425 AD, Central Tibet, Vajradhara, painted clay on a straw and wood armature, gilt copper crown and nimbus, 195 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 875 pl. 201A , at the gTsug Lhakhang of the Palkhor Chode monastery complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

This large image of Vajradhara is flanked by two standing attendants.

The male figure looks like Vajrapani but the author identifies him as Vajrasattva, who is normally seated and holding the vajra sceptre upright.

The female figure is ‘brDa snya ma’. She holds a skull cup and a flaying knife. (Compare with a painting of Vajradhara flanked by a male and a female standing figure, possibly Vajrapani and Ekajata, on HAR).

14th-15th century, Tibet or Nepal, Vajradhara, gilt bronze (with turquoise inlay), 44,1 cm, private collection, Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Works of Art lot 403, 22nd September 2021, Christie’s

15th century, Tibet, Vajradhara, gilt metal with turquoise inlay, size not given, private collection, photo on HAR

16th century, Tibet, Vajradhara, gilt metal (with stone inlay), size not given, private collection, photo 20446 on HAR

16th century, Tibet, Tsang province atelier, Vajradhara, metal (copper alloy with silver-inlaid eyes), size not given, private collection, photo on HAR

Almost identical to a plain copper alloy Vajradhara seen on  Sotheby’s, except for the necklace. Both are quite different from the many ‘Tsang province atelier’ statues seen previously: the metal is darker, the hair is more prominent, the face not as square, and the lotus base has broader and rounder petals. (see the page on Himalayan Art Resources for comparison).

15th or 16th century?, Central Tibet, Tsang province atelier?, (labelled ‘Nepal, 16th-17th century), Vajradhara, bronze, 19, 8 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 68, 23rd November 2004, Christie’s (Paris)

17th century, Tibet, Vajradhara, gilt metal, size not given, collection Christie’s New York, September 2021 (nowhere to be found on Christie’s ), photo on HAR

Undated, Tibet, Vajradhara, bronze (with gilding, stone inlay, pigment), size not given, photo on HAR, at the Tibet House Museum in New Delhi (India).

When Vajradhara’s hands are empty his attributes are placed on lotuses next to him, with the vajra sceptre (missing here) on his right and the bell on his left.

18th century, Tibet?, Vajradhara, bronze, 16 cm, photo on wisdomlib, Northern Himalayan Gallery, at the National Museum of Nepal.

18th century (or earlier?), Tibet, Maitreya, (Vajradhara), gilt bronze with turquoise inlay, 9,5 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 134, 7th December 2023, Delon Hoebanx (Paris).

Tibet, Vajradhara (16)

14th-15th century, Tibet, Vajradhara, gilt copper alloy with cold gold and pigments, 13,2 cm, Auction 819 lot 25, 7th December 2023, Nagel

15th-16th century, Tibet, Tsang province, Vajradhara, brass with silver and copper-inlaid eyes, 20 cm, private collection, Images of Devotion lot 1840, 1st December 2023, Bonhams (Hong Kong).

Few figures from this corpus of brass works made in the Tsang province display such protruding scarf loops at elbow level. We saw another 15th-16th century Vajradhara wearing the same crown and jewellery design (Indian and Southeast Asian Art lot 101, 27th March 2003, Christie’s, photo on HAR ). He holds his attributes, a vajra sceptre and a vajra bell, against his heart.

15th century, Tibet, Vajradhara, gilt copper alloy with silver and stone inlay, 18,7 cm, same as before, lot 1842.

A rare Nepalese style Vajradhara whose long crown ribbons, with jewels at each end, gently flow over his shoulders. We saw a similar one (with a triple gem above the ear) on Sotheby’s  , and another on Bonhams, with bows above the ears.

16th-17th century, Tibet, Vajradhara, gilt copper alloy with silver and stone inlay, 24 cm, The Claude de Marteau Collection Part IV, lot 27, 6th October 2023, Bonhams (Hong Kong).

Alternatively, his crossed hands are empty and the attributes are placed on the lotuses by his sides.

17th century, Tibet, Vajradhara, gilt bronze with silver and stone inlay, 21 cm, private collection, Auction 8018 lot 417, 9th December 2011, Christie’s (London)

Tibet, Maitreya (12)

15th century, Tibet, Maitreya, gilt copper alloy (with turquoise, coral, clear gems), silver stems, 20,3 cm, The Claude de Marteau Collection Part IV, lot 13, 6th October 2023, Bonhams (Hong Kong)

Maitreya in his bodhisattva appearance, adorned with a crown and princely jewellery, seated with both legs pendent, his feet placed on a lotus platform at the front of the stepped throne. He makes the ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘ gesture with his hands and at the same time holds the stem of open flowers, perhaps nagchampa/nagakesara blossom, that support a water pot on each side (which is unusual, the flower to his right normally supports a wheel or a branch of ashoka tree, if anything).

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Tsang province, Maitreya, brass with silver, copper, and turquoise inlay, 30,8 cm, photo as above, lot 24.

17th-18th century, Tibet, Maitreya, re-gilt bronze, 10,6 cm, private collection, Asian Art Auction 809 lot 113, 7th July 2022, Nagel.

Maitreya as the future buddha. He is dressed in monastic garb and holds a ritual water pot (kundika) in the palm of his left hand. His chignon is topped with a lotus bud.

17th-18th century, Tibet or China, Maitreya, gilt and polychrome zitan (red sandalwood), 22,2 cm, private collection, photo on Christie’s

Tibet, Avalokiteshvara – standing

15th century, Tibet, Avalokiteshvara, bronze, 29,5 cm, private collection, Fine Asian Art lot 11, 6th December 2022, Nagel.

The bodhisattva of compassion, identified by the lotus in his left hand together with the boon-granting gesture of his right hand, which displays an engraved lotus, is standing on a lotus pedestal atop a Kashmir-style stepped plinth decorated with a lotus and two birds, possibly the mythical hamsas (we saw a very similar example on HAR).

The treatment of the eyes and other Chinese-style facial features along with the absence of gilding correspond to a group of brass/copper alloy works produced in the Tsang area during the 15th and 16th century.

12th-13th century, Western Tibet?, Avalokiteshvara (labelled ‘Kashmir, Maitreya’), bronze with traces of silver inlay, 14,1 cm, private collection, photo as above, lot 07.

We have seen quite a few Western Tibetan statues of Avalokiteshvara (with unusual body proportions) standing with a lotus (broken here) in his left hand and a tiny water pot in the other (Maitreya normally holds his in the left hand).

Circa 13th century, Tibet, Padmapani (Avalokiteshvara), bronze, 14,3 cm, private collection, Asian Art A203AS lot 103, 29th November 2022, Koller.

Tibet, famous lamas (36)

The following sculptures belong to a corpus of non-gilt brass works made in the Tsang province (Tibet). Published on Bonhams, with extensive notes by Dora Tan (including a translation of the inscriptions around the base), they depict five patriarchs from the Sakya order, all of whom we have seen in previous posts. The first three wear garments that cover both arms because they were laymen, not monks.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, copper alloy, 17,8 cm, private collection, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art lot 521, 21st March 2023, Bonhams.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Sonam Tsemo, same as before.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen (also spelt Drakpa), same as before.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen, same as before.

15th-16th century, Central Tibet, Drogon Chogyal Pagpa Lodro Gyaltsen, same as before.

Tibet, Vira Vajradharma

15th century, Tibet, Vira Vajradharma, bronze with copper and silver inlay, 14 cm, private collection, photo and extensive notes by Tristan Bruck on Christie’s .

It is the first time we see a statue of Vira Vajradharma (unrelated to Vajradharma Lokeshvara, a 4-arm form of Avalokiteshvara), who is identified through his attributes, a drum, a skull cup, a ritual staff, in conjunction with his skull crown and princely attire. His lips and some flowers on his dhoti are inlaid with copper, his three eyes and other flowers on the garment are inlaid with silver, a technique often seen on 15th and 16th century non-gilt brass works with the same style and the same type of lotus base attributed to the Tsang province. See also the notes and the painting featuring him  next to Vajradhara on  HAR.

Tibet, Maitreya – bodhisattva appearance (2)

15th-16th century, Tibet, Maitreya, copper alloy with silver inlay, 26 cm, private collection, Indian and Southeast Asian Art lot 60, 1st April 2005, Sotheby’s.

Very similar to other brass figures with silver-inlaid eyes and richly incised garments attributed to a workshop in the Tsang district, the above depicts Maitreya in his bodhisattva aspect, his hands held close together in the ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘ gesture and holding blue lilies that support a miniature stupa to his right and a ritual water pot (kundika) to his left. The front of his crown is adorned with a small Kirtimukha (see close up on HAR ).

15th-16th century, Tibet, Maitreya, bronze with silver, copper, and turquoise inlay, 12,7 cm, private collection, photo and notes by Tristan Bruck on Christie’s.

Another group of 15th or 16th century brass works from the same area depict the future buddha without a crown, his matted hair piled in a tall chignon decorated with a stupa at the front, his hands as before, his right leg pendent, flanked by flowers that support a kundika to his left and another type of flower (nagasekara or nagchampa) or a branch of ashoka to his right. We saw one on Asian Art Museum , another on Sotheby’s, and a third including a meditation strap on HAR  (amongst others).

15th century, Central Tibet, Maitreya, gilt bronze with turquoise inlay, 50 cm, possibly from the Sonam Gyaltsen atelier, private collection, photo and extensive notes on Christie’s

The rich gilding and the extensive use of tiny turquoise cabochons belong to another (and earlier) style of statues related to the Tsang district, and more specifically to the Sonam Gyaltsen atelier (see Himalayan Art Resources ).

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.