CHINE, FIN DE LA DYNASTIE QING (1644-1911)

Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) is widely regarded in Tibet as a second Buddha and the main teacher of the first Dalai Lama, Gendun Drub (1391-1474). An eminent scholar, he reformed the old Kadampa sect, creating the new Gelugpa sect (Yellow Hat), and is the founder of the monasteries Ganden, Drepung and Sera. He is revered as an emanation of the Buddhist god of wisdom, Manjushri. Although the present bronze image lacks his attributes of the sword and book, he is clearly recognizable by the pronounced facial features, for which Tsong Khapa was also known. Cloisonné Buddhist figures are quite rare. See a example of a small cloisonné enamel figure of Maitreya from the Qianlong reign illustrated in The Complete collection of Treasures, vol. 60, Buddhist Statues of Tibet, Hong Kong, 2000, no. 251, p. 262.
See a very close example of cloisonné enamel large figure of Tsongkhapa in the Collection of the Chojin Lama Museum, item n° 53130 visible on https://www.himalayanart.org/items/53130