TIBET OR CHINA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY

The newly established Qing dynasty, themselves Manchus, relied heavily on the support of other foreign ethnic groups within China, particularly Tibetans and Mongolians, for their reign. In pursuit of this goal, the Manchus heavily patronized Tibetan-style Buddhism, leading the Kangxi Emperor (r.1661-1722) himself to eventually become a devout Buddhist and admirer of the Mongolian lama and master artist, Zanabazar (1635-1723). Under the Kangxi Emperor, Zanabazar oversaw the construction of several Buddhist monasteries in Inner Mongolia and Beijing, an endeavor and tradition of artistic patronage that continued after both figures’ time under the Yongzheng (r.1722-1735) and Qianlong (r. 1735-1796) Emperors.
Bronze image foundries associated with these new monasteries came to be heavily influenced by the Zanabazar school’s style. Elements of the present figure show strong Mongolian influence, including the overall richly gilt surface, smooth contours of the waist, treatment of the ribbons and sashes, and minimalist aesthetic. The turquoise inlays, although modestly applied, indicate additional influence of Tibetan craftmanship. Unlike most bronzes produced in China during this period, the lotus base is fully executed in the round.