A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF VAJRAPANI18th century Finely cast striding in alidhasana , the right hand holding a vajra and the left in katakamudra , wearing a tiger skin tied around his waist and adorned with snakes, elaborate jewellery and streaming sashes, the ferocious face with bulging eyes, the hair in flames above a tiara decorated with skull heads. 14cm (5 1/2in) high. 十八世紀 鎏金銅金剛手菩薩像 Vajrapani, also known as 'Guhyapati', keeper of all the tantras of Vajrayana Buddhism. In the current form, wearing a black cloak, he appears as the manifestation of Gonpo Bernagchen, the protector deity of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. The deity is surrounded by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, one of the principal teachers credited with bringing Buddhism to Tibet during the 8th century, and Shri Devi, Wisdom Protector of Himalayan and Tibetan Buddhism. pare with a related gilt-bronze figure of Vajrapani, 18th century, which was sold at Christie's Paris, 13 June 2013, lot 294.