A gilt bronze figure of King Dharmapala Pehar

TIBETO-CHINESE, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A gilt bronze figure of King Dharmapala Pehar
Tibeto-Chinese, 18th century
The four-headed protector deity seated on the back of a lion with his six arms radiating around him, wearing a domed hat finely incised with scrollwork, his lion mount expessively modeled with bared fangs, richly gilt overall
12 in. (30.5 cm.) high

Provenance

Collection Oesch Gonin, Switzerland

Lot Essay

According to Tibetan tradition, when Padmasambhava and King Trisong Detsen built Samye monastery in the 8th century, the former invited the deity King Pehar and bound him by oath to protect Buddhist establishments.

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