AN INLAID GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF VAJRADHARA, NEPAL, MALLA PERIOD, 15TH CENTURY

Superbly cast, seated in dhyanasana on a double lotus pedestal with beaded rims, both arms crossed forming the vajrahumkara mudra in front of his chest, the hands holding long lotus stems coming to full bloom at the shoulder and terminating in small vajras, clad in a tight-fitting dhoti gathering in a fan-shaped fold below his ankles, and richly adorned with beaded jewelry inlaid in turquoise, coral, and glass.

The face finely modeled in a serene expression with sinuously lidded eyes, elegantly arched brows, rectangular urna, aquiline nose, and slender lips forming a subtle smile. His blue hair is arranged in a high chignon topped by a lotus finial behind the ribboned foliate crown.

Provenance: Koller Zurich, 8 June 1974, lot 27 (attributed to Tibet and dated to the 17^th century). An important private collection in southern Germany, acquired from the above, and thence by descent.
Condition: Good condition with expected wear, casting irregularities, light warping, small dents, minuscule nicks, light surface scratches, rubbing to gilt, minor losses to inlays with some possibly renewed, the right lotus with an old repair, losses to attributes, remnants of pigment, the base resealed.

Weight: 1.3 kg
Dimensions: Height 20.5 cm

This sensuously modeled sculpture of Vajradhara exemplifies the iconic craftsmanship and aesthetic dynamism of the Newar atelier. Hallmarks of this tradition are evident in the low hairline and broad forehead, the rectangular urna adorning the square face, the aquiline nose reminiscent of earlier Pala imagery, the short neck and broad, powerful shoulders, and the lavish use of semi-precious stone inlay. The thick casting and the broad, layered lotus petals are features closely associated with works from the Densatil monastery. The Newar people, creators of the most refined forms of Nepalese material culture, were patronized primarily by the royal courts and the highest ranks of the religious elite. Positioned between India to the south and Tibet and China beyond the Himalayan range to the north, the Kathmandu Valley occupied a unique geographic setting that encouraged the flourishing and dissemination of its distinctive artistic practices.

Vajradhara, the Adi-Buddha, is revered as the primordial source from which all wisdom and compassion arise. The Sarma schools of Tibetan Buddhism regard him as the precursor of all spiritual lineages. In his calm and composed form, Vajradhara embodies the blissful state that follows the realization of the dharma, presenting his body both as a focus for meditative contemplation and as an object of devotional appreciation. The Nyingma school sees Vajradhara as an emanation of Buddha Samantabhadra, while other major Tibetan Buddhist schools regard him as the secret form of Shakyamuni Buddha and the combined essence of all Buddhas of the ten directions and the three times. From Vajradhara emanate some of the most important meditational deities, including Guhyasamaja, Shri Hevajra, and Chakrasamvara.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams New York, 17 September 2014, lot 1
Price: USD 81,250 or approx. EUR 94,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt copper alloy figure of Manjushri Namasangiti, Nepal, 15th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of casting, and gilding, with similar facial features, expression, beaded and inlaid decoration, base, and size (21.5 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 30 November 2022, lot 1010
Price: HKD 1,011,000 or approx. EUR 121,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt copper alloy figure of Manjushri, Nepal or Tibet, circa 15^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of casting, and gilding, with similar facial features, expression, beaded and inlaid decoration, and base. Note the size (23.5 cm).

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