NEPAL, 14TH CENTURY

Manjusri, otherwise known as Wenshushili Pusa, is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. He is often seen in a group of three comprising Sakyamuni and Samantabhadra; the latter commonly portrayed seated on an elephant. Like the current figure, Manjusri is often depicted holding the sword of knowledge and a lotus stem supporting the book of wisdom.
A gilt-bronze figure of Manjusri of similar posture and slightly larger size (28 cm.), attributing to Tibet, 14th century, is illustrated in On the Path to Enlightenment: The Berti Aschmann Foundation of Tibetan Art at the Museum Rietberg Zurich, Zurich, 1995, no. 64. Compare also to a Nepalese gilt-bronze figure of Manjusri dating to 15th century, in a seated position similarly clad in bejewelled ornaments, but with both hands in the dharmacakra mudra, illustrated in Meinrad Maria Grewenig and Eberhard Rist ed., Buddha: 2000 Years of Buddhist Art. 232 Masterpieces, Völklingen, 2016, no. 140.