1050 - Bronze sculpture of Padmasambhava

Bronze sculpture of Padmasambhava 20th century, unmarked, cast in bronze, gilded, partly painted, elaborately chiselled, a fully three-dimensional figure of Guru Rinpoche, who is regarded as the founder of Buddhism in Tibet during the reign of King Thrisong Detsen, he is also regarded as an incarnation of Amitabha and widely venerated; depicted in the meditation posture on a double lotus pedestal, wearing a royal cloak, a gift from the King of Saor; in his left hand he holds a kapala, within which stands a vase filled with amrita; his right hand holds a dorje; and a khatvanga rests on his left shoulder as a sign of the highest tantric mastery; minor signs of wear, H 32 cm.