Gilt Bronze Seated Statue of Master Tsongkhapa, Qing Dynasty, 17th-19th Century Tibetan Buddhist Sculpture

拍品描述

Dimensions: Total height 32 cm (12.60 inches), base width 19.2 cm (7.56 inches), weight 7.6 kg. A 17th-19th century Qing Dynasty Tibetan-style gilt bronze statue of Tsongkhapa. Condition and Provenance: Cast using the lost-wax method, made from a single piece of high-quality brass, with a thick, original gilding layer covering the surface, giving it a warm and bright luster. The base edges show only slight natural wear, with no large areas of gilding loss, welding repairs, or recasting damage. The master is depicted in the classic teaching mudra posture, with clearly defined folds in the robes, creating a strong three-dimensional effect. The square base is engraved with wave and dot patterns, and the back of the bottom is engraved with a complete double vajra motif. The base is original and has not been replaced or altered. The facial painting details are complete, with the eyes, eyebrows, and red lips clearly visible. This Buddha statue is without defects, cracks, or signs of copper repair; even the thick layer of patina that has naturally formed over hundreds of years is well preserved, without any re-gilding or artificial aging treatment. This antique Buddha statue was originally handled by a historic Tibetan art gallery in Bangkok and was acquired in 2026 by a private collector in California specializing in Himalayan Buddhist sculptures. California, Bangkok, and Paris are major global trading centers for antique gilt bronze Buddha statues. Description: This Qing Dynasty Tibetan gilt bronze statue of Tsongkhapa, an iconic figure of the Himalayan Gelug school of Buddhism, was cast using the lost-wax method and comes with its original square Mount Meru base, its proportions precise and solemn. The Buddha wears a traditional Gelugpa pointed hat, his face gentle and compassionate, his gaze calmly fixed forward, and the original red pigment on his lips adds to his solemnity. The statue wears two layers of robes with naturally flowing folds and sculpted lines. His right hand is raised in the abhaya mudra (gesture of reassurance), while his left hand rests on his abdomen in the prayer mudra (gesture of preaching), strictly adhering to the standard image of Tsongkhapa preaching the Dharma. The square base is decorated with layered dotted patterns and wave patterns on the front, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The back of the base is carved with two vajras, a typical feature of orthodox monastic Buddhist statues of that era. The thick, original gilding layer is remarkably well-preserved, having withstood centuries of natural wear without any later repairs or alterations. Tsongkhapa was the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. A Qing dynasty gilt bronze statue so well-preserved, with its base intact, facial paint complete, and gilding layer undamaged, is extremely rare. This statue possesses multiple collectible and academic values, encompassing Himalayan Buddhist sculpture techniques, Tibetan Buddhist history, and Qing dynasty metal gilding techniques. It is ideally suited for placement in shrines or museum galleries and has maintained a long-standing popularity among Western and overseas collectors of Himalayan antique art.

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