A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF VAJRADHARA, 16TH CENTURY Tibet. Well cast as the primordial Buddha seated in vajraparyankasana on a double-lotus pedestal with beaded edges, his hands depicted crossed at the wrist in prajnalinganabhinaya and holding vajras. Clad in a dhoti with neatly incised folds gathering below his feet, richly adorned with ornamental beaded jewelry including a crown, necklaces, armbands and anklets, all inset with turquoises.

Provenance: From a private collection in London, United Kingdom, acquired before 2000, and thence by descent.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear and casting irregularities, few minuscule nicks, occasional light scratches, minor dents, little rubbing to gilt. Some inlays possibly later replacements. The base sealed and possibly still filled with sacred contents. The gilt in magnificent preservation overall.

Weight: 561.8 g
Dimensions: Height 15.7 cm

His serene face with downcast eyes, sinuous upper lids, gently arched brows, square urna, and full lips pursed to form a subtle smile. The hair arranged in a high chignon, surmounted by a jewel, two strands falling elegantly over the shoulders.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 22 March 2018, lot 1038
Price: USD 23,750 or approx. EUR 27,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Vajradhara inlaid with semi-precious stones, Tibet, circa 16^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related expression with similar pursed lips and sinuous upper lids, jewelry with similar inlays, hair with similar strands at the shoulders and also surmounted by a jewel, hand pose with vajras, and size (15.3 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 3 December 2015, lot 450
Price: HKD 200,000 or approx. EUR 28,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-bronze Vajradhara, Tibet, 16^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related expression with similar slightly tilted head and sinuous upper lids, jewelry with similar inlays, hair with similar strands at the shoulders and also surmounted by a jewel, hand pose (though lacking the vajras), and size (15.4 cm).



十六世紀銅鎏金金剛總持
西藏。金剛總持，藏語「多傑羌」，意為總持統攝一切金剛，是原始的報身佛，為佛教各宗派傳承的本源。本件造像金水燦然。造像頭戴寶冠，面相俊朗秀雅，眼眉細長，雙眉之間有白毫。耳垂戴圓鐺，頸戴瓔珞，瓔珞中央嵌寶，以示莊嚴。上身挺直，左右手臂戴釧，雙手當胸交叉，左手在內持鈴，右手在外持金剛杵，胸前的鈴與杵代表智慧與善巧的結合。雙足金剛跏趺坐，座下雙層蓮座蓮瓣寬大，底部裝藏封蓋。

來源：英國倫敦私人舊藏，購於2000年之前，保存至今。
品相：品相極好，有輕微磨損和鑄造瑕疵，輕微劃痕、凹痕，鎏金磨損。一些嵌寳可能曾在後期更換過。底座密封，造像内可能還裝了聖物。鎏金整體保存完好。

重量：561.8 克
尺寸：高 15.7 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2018年3月22日，lot 1038
價格：USD 23,750（相當於今日EUR 27,500）
描述：約十六世紀西藏鑲嵌寶石銅鎏金金剛總持
專家評論：比較非常相近的嘴唇緊閉、上眼瞼蜿蜒的表情，類似的鑲嵌珠寶、肩部髮絲也有珠寶，手部握有金剛杵，以及尺寸 (15.3 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2015年12月3日，lot 450
價格：HKD 200,000（相當於今日EUR 28,500）
描述：十六世紀西藏銅鎏金金剛總持
專家評論：比較非常相近的表情、頭部略微傾斜、上眼瞼蜿蜒，珠寶鑲嵌，肩部髮絲也有珠寶，手的姿勢（但没有金剛杵），以及尺寸 (15.4 厘米)。