TIBET, CIRCA 15TH CENTURY

The figure is made from two different alloys, a brass type alloy for the exposed body parts, i.e. arms, feet, and head, and a high copper content alloy for the robe, fused in the casting. This rare and complex technique likely originated in Northeastern India, with rare examples from Pagan period Burma and Tibet in existence, simultaneously created after their Pala period prototypes. J. Singer discusses two Tibetan examples of mixed alloy sculptures of a seated Buddha, in the Nyingjei Lam Collection and in the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, relating them to a famous 'short-necked' image of Buddha at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, cf. 'Tibetan Homage to Bodh Gaya', in Orientations, December 2001, p. 45ff., figs. 11 and 12. This monumental prototype would likely have been made of the same combination of metals, their colors relating to the red monk's robe and gold colored body. However, in both cases, Buddha is displayed in the earth touching gesture, while the present example is much larger and in varada mudra; for a further discussion of the close stylistic link between Pala India, Tibet, and Burma, based on another partially gilt figure of Buddha, see M. Lerner, The Flame and the Lotus, Indian and Southeast Asian Art from the Kronos Collection, 1984, cat. no. 24.