18thC Tibetan Bronze Lama Statue - Heavy 10oz Portrait Monk Dharmachakra Mudra

Details

Description

This is a rare and exceptional bronze Tibetan Lama, dating to the late 18th or early 19th century. Unlike generic … Read more This is a rare and exceptional bronze Tibetan Lama, dating to the late 18th or early 19th century. Unlike generic deity statues, this figure is a "Portrait Master," identified by his realistic facial features and tonsured (shaven) head, representing a specific historical teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist lineage.

Iconography: The Lama is seated in padmasana (lotus position) on a finely cast double-lotus throne. His hands are held in the Dharmachakra Mudra, symbolizing the "Turning of the Wheel of Dharma"—the highest form of teaching.

Artistry & Patina: The bronze features a deep, original chocolate-brown patina. The robes are intricately incised with delicate foliate borders along the hems, a mark of high-quality workshop production from the late Qing period.

Weight & Quality: Weighing a significant 10 ounces (283g), the statue has the "heft" and density associated with high-copper-content bronze and solid, thick-walled lost-wax casting.

Base: The base remains sealed with its original copper plate, which is traditionally believed to hold sacred consecration materials (mantras or relics) inside. This "sealed" status is highly prized by collectors.

Technical Specifications
Material: Heavy Bronze / Copper Alloy

Origin: Tibet (Sino-Tibetan Style)

Age: Late 18th Century (circa 1750–1800)

Reference
Source: The Gods of Northern Buddhism
Author: Alice Getty
Reference: Page 160. This text details the specific iconography of the "Hierarchy of Northern Buddhism," explaining the use of the Dharmachakra Mudra by historical Lamas and lineage masters of the Gelug and Kagyu traditions.

Item dimensions: 4.25" tall × 3" wide × 2" deep
Weight of item only: 10 oz See less