A gilt bronze figure of Mandarava

TIBET, 16TH CENTURY

Details

A gilt bronze figure of Mandarava
Tibet, 16th century
Richly gilt and expertly cast, seated in lalitasana on a double lotus base with beaded rims, the right foot tucked beneath the folds of her robes and the left relaxed before her, holding a kapala in the right palm and forming vitarkamudra with the left, the pleated robes and shawl with cloud and floral motifs, a beaded girdle with pendant loops about her waist, multi-strand beaded necklaces, bracelets, anklets and earrings inlaid with hardstones, the face with cold gold and pigment enhancing the features, the long locks parted in back and falling over her shoulders from beneath a tiara, the base sealed and with an inscription on the verso
5 in. (12.6 cm.) high

Provenance

Ghigo Collection, London, acquired in London before 2000

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Lot Essay

Mandarava is the Indian partner to Padmasambhava, and belongs to a set of three sculptures with Padmasambhava at center, Mandarava sitting to his proper right, and Yeshe Tsogyal, his Tibetan partner, to his left. Padmasambhava was one of three people to introduce Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. The inscription on the verso says, "Having given rise to the pristine awareness of bliss-emptiness, Praise to the form of Mandarava."

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