A TIBETAN SILVER- AND COPPER- INLAID BRONZE SEATED FIGURE OF MARPA LOTSAWA, LATE 15TH/16TH CENTURY

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A TIBETAN SILVER- AND COPPER- INLAID BRONZE SEATED FIGURE OF MARPA LOTSAWA, LATE 15TH/16TH CENTURY Marpa lived between 1012 and 1097 and is renowned as one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism. He travelled from Tibet to India in search of rare tantric texts and on his return to Tibet he became their sole teacher and transmitted them to a few select disciples. He was remarked on for his sense of strictness which sometimes became quite frightening to his disciples. The image which might be dated to about the 15th century shows him with a rather gentle look on his face but a certain firmness may also be noted as well. His hands are held in the position that is the same as that of the Buddha Shakyamuni telling the viewer that the spiritual realization Marpa had attained was the same as that of the Buddha himself. His robes are beautifully depicted and closely follow the contours of his body, arrayed as they are in perfect folds. His bright silver inlaid eyes lend the image a sense of piercing direct insight which is a feature of Marpa's teachings. He sits on a lotus of purity which in turn is located on top of a throne supported by lions. The Buddha's teachings were referred to as the 'Lion's roar' and the lion is still regarded as the emblematic animal-protector of Tibet. The back of the base with a line of Tibetan inscription. (Dr. David Templeman, Monash University) 14.5cm high PROVENANCE: A private collection, Sydney.

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