TIBET OR BHUTAN, 18TH CENTURY

Padmasambhava (literally ‘lotus-born’ in Sanskrit) is considered one of the principal early teachers to have brought Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. He is depicted in numerous forms with different names representing the outer, inner and secret aspects of his spiritual being. Here, he is seated in dhyanasana on a lush lotus base with a beaded rim. He holds a vajra and kapala in his hands and wears thick robes patterned with a ruyi motif at the collar. His crown is topped with a half-vajra rather than his signature raven-feather cap.