22 - SINO-TIBET

SINO-TIBET Bronze figure depicting the Buddha Vajradhara seated on a base shaped like a double lotus flower, with both hands crossed in front of his chest and adorned with numerous jewels and ornaments. A double vajra is incised beneath the base. (Traces of oxidation and wear) Height: 32.3 cm Note: Vajradhara, whose Sanskrit name means “Bearer of the Vajra,” occupies a fundamental place in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly within Tibetan traditions, where he embodies the primordial Buddha and the essence of Enlightenment. He is traditionally depicted with his arms crossed over his chest in the *vajrahumkara mudra* gesture, holding the vajra and the bell (*ghanta*), symbols of the union of method and wisdom. His rich jewelry and crown distinguish him from monastic depictions of the historical Buddha. Seated on a double lotus, this Sino-Tibetan bronze sculpture embodies the principal iconographic conventions of Himalayan Buddhist art.