A Gilt Bronze Portrait of the Fifth Dalai Lama

TIBET, 17TH CENTURY

Details

A Gilt Bronze Portrait of the Fifth Dalai Lama
Tibet, 17th Century
Seated on a rectangular cushion, wearing voluminous robes and pandita hat with long lappets, a phurbu handle protruding from his belt, his right arm resting on his knee and holding a book in his left, inscribed on the reverse of the base with an homage, richly gilt overall
6 in. (15.2 cm.) high

Lot Essay

The Great Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Losang Gyatso (1617-82) is one of the most remarkable characters in Tibetan history. He was a capable statesman, author of numerous books, and an accomplished yogic practioner. Although trained by Gelugpa clerics, he had a strong affinity for teachings of the Nyingmapa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, exemplified here by the phurbu tucked in his belt.

See Samten Karmay, Secret Visions of the Fifth Dalai Lama (1988).

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