298 - BUDDHA AKSHOBYA TSA TSA TIBET 18TH CENTURY

BUDDHA AKSHOBYA TSA TSA TIBET 18TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 9,5 cm Wide 8 cm Depth 5,5 cm Weight: 329 grams A moulded Tibetan clay tsa tsa depicting Buddha Akshobhya seated in vajrasana on a lotus throne within an elaborate pointed aureole. His right hand descends in the earth-touching gesture, while the left rests before the body and would traditionally be associated with the vajra. Floral and flame-like ornament fills the surrounding mandorla, concentrating the entire sacred composition into a small portable format. Akshobhya is one of the Five Tathagatas and represents unwavering, mirror-like wisdom. His iconography transforms the familiar earth-touching gesture into a statement of spiritual immovability, while the vajra reinforces ideas of indestructibility and clarity. Tsa tsas were made from moulded clay for stupas, shrines, pilgrimage deposits and private devotion. Repetition was central to their religious purpose, allowing sacred images and merit to be multiplied. The present example retains a strong moulded impression despite wear to the exposed edges.