A LARGE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF PADMASAMBHAVA, LATE QING TO REPUBLIC Tibet, ca. 1850-1950. Heavily cast, seated in dhyanasana atop a double lotus base with beaded upper edge, holding in his right hand a vajra and in his left a skullcup. He is wearing voluminous robes finely incised with cloud designs, the hems with foliate scroll and floral diaper, and richly adorned with jewelry, inlaid with coral and turquoises. The hair in fine strands falling elegantly over the shoulders, surmounted by a peaked Tantric cap with upturned sides topped with a feather and centered by a crescent moon surmounted by a sun.

Provenance: UK trade.
Condition: Overall in good condition commensurate with age. Few minor nicks, dents, losses, light scratches, and wear to gilt. Some casting irregularities, signs of corrosion, dark spots, remnants of old varnish and pigment, some inlays are lost while others might be later replacements, the trident (which was attached using the tang below his proper left shoulder) is lost. The base retains its original sealplate and, considering the heavy weight of the statue, it can be assumed that the contents of the statue are still present.

Weight: 4,944 g
Dimensions: Height 33.8 cm

His expressive face is marked by remarkably intense eyes, furrowed brows, a fine mustache, and full lips, flanked by long pendulous earlobes. The base sealed and incised with a double vajra.

Padmasambhava (literally ‘lotus-born’ in Sanskrit), also known as Guru Rinpoche among Tibetans, is believed to be one of the principal masters to bring Buddhism to Tibet and to teach the tantras in the 8th century. He is depicted in numerous forms with different names representing outer, inner and secret aspects of his spiritual being, with the change of names following the chronology of his life story. In the 5th century BC, Buddha Shakyamuni arrived as the founder of Buddhism. His teachings were subsumed by the Sutrayana and the Tantryana. In the 8th century, Padmasambhava personified the guru principle, the ritualistic path of Buddhism and the heart of Vajrayana Buddhism. They are exemplified in its flourishing after it was introduced into Tibet and the Himalayas between the 7th and 11th centuries. Because of Padmasambhava's teachings and contribution, he is known as the ‘Second Buddha’.

Literature comparison: Compare a closely related gilt bronze figure of Padmasambhava, dated to the 17^th century, in the collection of the Museum Rietberg in Zurich, inventory number BA 120. Compare a related gilt bronze figure of Padmasambhava, dated 16^th-17^th century, in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1992,1214.49.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related gilt bronze figure of Padmasambhava, 25.5 cm high, dated 16^th-17^th century, at Christie’s Paris in Art d’Asie on 8 June 2010, lot 355, sold for EUR 46,600. Compare a related gilt bronze figure of Padmasambhava, 26 cm high, dated circa 15^th century, at Bonhams London in Fine Chinese Art on 12 November 2015, lot 74, sold for GBP 50,000.

清末至民初大型銅鎏金蓮花生像
西藏，約1850-1950年。蓮花生大士結禪定座坐於雙層蓮座上，右手執金剛杵，左手執頭骨杯。他身著交領式僧衣，層層套迭，衣紋自然流暢，繁複華美，帽簷以日月為中心，耳環上鑲嵌綠松石。

來源：英國古玩市場。
品相：總體狀況良好，與年齡相稱。少量輕微的劃痕、凹痕、缺損和鎏金磨損。一些鑄件不規則，有腐蝕跡象、黑點、舊清漆和顏料的殘留物，一些鑲嵌物丟失，一些可能是後來更換的，三叉戟（左肩下方的柄腳連接）丟失了。底座保留了原來的封印板。考慮到雕像的重量，雕像內部的內容可能仍然存在。

重量：4,944 克
尺寸：高 33.8 厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件銅鎏金蓮花生大士像，高25.5釐米，為十六至十七世紀，見巴黎佳士得Art d’Asie 2010年6月8日 lot 355, 售價EUR 46,600。比較一件相似的銅鎏金蓮花生大士像，高26釐米，約十五世紀，見倫敦邦翰思Fine Chinese Art 2015年11月12日 lot 74, 售價GBP 50,000。