A TIBETAN GILT BRONZE SCULPTURE OF MANDARAVA

17TH CENTURY

Mandarava, a Bengali princess, is depicted holding a kapla in her right hand, her left hand positioned in vitarka mudra, she wears a long robe with beaded borders, with a multi-strand necklace, foliate-shaped earrings and a garland upon her head, the figure inset with coral beads, she stands above a lotus base leaning slightly to her left, 393g, 15.2cm.

Provenance: purchased from Spink and Son Ltd, London, in the 1990s; and Christie's, New York, 23rd March 1999, lot 130.

Mandarava was one of the two wives of Padmasambhava, the famous Indian teacher and miracle worker of the 8th century who preached Buddhism in Tibet and participated in the foundation of the first Tibetan monastery, Samye.