A TIBETAN GILT-COPPER SCULPTURE OF PADMASAMBHAVA

19TH CENTURY

Seated upon a raised lotus throne emerging from a lake, holding a vajra and a kapala in his hands, his spouse, Mandarava, stands to his left on a separate lotus flower holding a kapala, his other spouse, Yeshe Tsogyal, stands to his right holding an amrita kalasha (the vase with the elixir of longevity), all framed by a flaming aureole decorated with gilded lotus buds and foliage, 33cm, 1.5kg. (2)

Padmasambhava is considered to be the founder of the oldest order of Tibetan Buddhism,Nyingmapa. He arrived in Tibet from India in the mid 8th century and, according to tradition, subdued and conquered local demons and gods who were obstructing the development of Buddhism.

The image and mountain stand are both consecrated.

Cf. Spink & Son Ltd, The Mirror of Mind, Art of Vajrayana Buddhism, 1995, p.18 for a related example.