Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 19

Over Life-Size Tibetan Gilt Bronze Arm of a Bodhisattva, Late 19th Century

$12,500
£9,448.45
€10,857.95
CA$17,406.17
A$19,363.65
CHF 10,150.67
MX$236,619.13
NOK 129,256.12
SEK 121,676.76
DKK 81,050.48
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

An impressive larger than life-size cast and gilt bronze left hand and arm of a bodhisattva, late 19th century or earlier, Tibet. The over-sized arm and hand of graceful proportions. The arm tapering down to a slender wrist embellished with a simple bracelet hiding the join between the hand and arm. The hand and arm richly gilt. The join to the elbow visible and exposed. The hand heavily cast, with nice detail to the fingernails and cuticles. The palm with simple incised lines. The hand, with the pointer and pinky fingers raised, and the middle and ring finger folded down touching the thumb, performs the gesture known as karana mudra, the gesture of dispelling evil. (Here in Texas we refer to this gesture as "Hook'em Horns!") Karana mudra is often associated with Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, known in Tibet as Chenrezig, and in China as Guanyin. The hand and arm would originally have been part of a much larger sculpture. Unfortunately many Tibetan Buddhist sculptures and implements were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in China, with only fragments, such as this, remaining. The heavy arm and hand are mounted on a custom black painted metal stand. Measurements of arm only: 19.25" L x 4" H x 4" W.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.75 in (40.01 cm)Width: 15 in (38.1 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
  • Style:
    Tibetan (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Late 19th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. Part of a larger sculpture. The bronze with areas of verdigris and spotting, and with wear to the gilding. The stand with some discoloration to the paint. Please see photos.
  • Seller Location:
    Austin, TX
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU894726981282

More From This Seller

View All
Tibetan Gilt Bronze Arm of the Buddha, Early 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A stunningly graceful life-sized arm and hand of the Buddha, Tibet, late 18th or early 19th century. The hand is beautifully cast, with long, elega...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Tibetan Tibetan Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Densatil Gilt Bronze Caryatid Figure, Tibet, 15th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A heavy and solidly cast, richly gilt, bronze caryatid figure from Densatil Monastery, Central Tibet, early 15th century or earlier. Cast in the form of two four armed figures standing back to back in tribhanga (thrice bent position) on a lotus platform, this piece would originally have served as a pillar for a larger seated deity...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Tibetan Tibetan Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Large Vintage Nepalese Gilt Bronze Vajrasattva Buddha, Mid 20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A large and impressive vintage gilt bronze figure of the tantric Buddha Vajrasattva, the Diamond Thunderbolt, mid 20th century, Nepal. Crafted of cast and richly gilt bronze, Vajrasattva sits in vajrasana, or full lotus position, his torso slightly bent at the waist. He holds an upright vajra scepter in one hand, raised at heart level. His other hand, resting on his hip, would originally have held a a ghanta, or bell, which is now missing. He is festooned in jewelry, including a five pointed crown, earrings, necklaces and armlets, all studded with coral and turquoise beads. His long hair falling in elegant tresses around his shoulders, the rest tied up in a high chignon topped by a vajra. Vajrasattva wears a dhoti covering his lower half. The dhoti intricately cast and carved with a scrolling vegetal design, and featuring images from the Ashtamangala, or Eight Auspicious Emblems, including the conch, endless knot, and double fish. Scarves billow out around his arms. The tantric Buddha sits upon a tall double lotus throne, the back with more intricately cast decorations of dragons and lotus blossoms against dense vegetal scrolls. The base sealed with a dented copper plate inscribed with a visvajra, or double vajra...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nepalese Tibetan Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Coral, Bronze

Nepalese Gilt Bronze Bodhisattva 'Amoghapasha?', Early to Mid-20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A beautiful and unusual gilt bronze figure of a Bodhisattva, possibly Amoghapasha, Nepal, early to mid-20th century, circa 1930s or 1940s. The regal figure possibly depicting the bodhisattva Amoghapasha, the Unfailing Lasso. The enlightened being is portrayed seated upon a high double lotus pedestal. He is dressed as an Indian prince, wearing a luxurious foliate patterned dhoti around his waist and a billowing scarf around his shoulders. . His torso bare save for the jeweled necklaces and the sacred thread. A five pointed crown with an image of Amitabha Buddha in the central point graces his head. His princely face cold painted with beautiful detail, his hair colored blue with crushed lapis lazuli, indicating his peaceful nature. Amoghapasha holds a lasso in one hand, an axe in the other. He is considered an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva of compassion, Amoghapasha is so named because of the lasso he holds in his hand. The lasso represents his vast compassion which is thought to extend to encompass all beings, bringing them into a state of perfection and enlightenment. The copper base plate, seemingly a later replacement, has been inscribed with a visvajra (double vajra...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nepalese Tibetan Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Bronze

Small Thai Rattanakosin Gilt Bronze Buddha Sheltered by Naga, Muchalinda, c 1900
Located in Austin, TX
A darling and charming small Thai lacquered and gilt bronze figure of the Buddha Sheltered by a Naga, Buddha Muchalinda, Rattanakosin Period, circa 1900, Thailand. The small statute...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Thai Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Life-Sized Shan Burmese Gilt Lacquer Papier Mâché Buddha, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
A large and impressive Burmese papier mâché gilt lacquer figure of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, Shan States, Burma (now Myanmar) circa 1880 - 1900. The Buddha sits in vajrasana...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Burmese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Lacquer

You May Also Like

Southeast Asian Bronze Buddha Hand Sculpture
Located in Astoria, NY
Southeast Asian Cast Bronze Buddha Hand Sculpture, on a fitted stepped wood base. Overall: 4.5" H x 10.75" W x 4.75" D. Provenance: From a New Y...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Asian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Large Cast Bronze Buddha Hand Sculpture on Stand
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Oversized cast bronze Buddhist hand mounted on a black wooden stand and is covered with a great patina. A vintage oversized Thai bronze sculpture...
Category

Mid-20th Century South Asian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Siamese Asian Buddha Antiquity Hand Sculpture Fragment, 15th-16th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful and very special piece. This bronze buddha hand sculpture, perhaps a fragment of a larger piece at one time, originally came from the prestigious Doris Wiener Gallery ...
Category

Antique 16th Century Asian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Gilt Buddha Hands, Late 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Two superb wood Buddha hands, reclaimed from old statues. Late 19th Century to early 20th Century. Polychromed in gilt and red pigment, and mounted on specially made-to-measure bla...
Category

Antique 1890s Thai Other Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Antique Gilt Bronze Buddha, 17th Century, 60 Inches
Located in South Burlington, VT
Thailand, Ayutthaya Kingdom, 16th-17th century gold gilt bronze temple Buddha, measuring 60 inches tall This beautiful Buddha sculpture will bring s...
Category

Antique 17th Century Thai Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Mid 20th Century Cast Bronze Buddha Hand Sculpture, On Stand
Located in New York, NY
A large cast bronze sculpture of a Buddha's left hand, circa 1960. Mounted on a trapezoid-shaped wood and metal stand. The gesture is known as Dharmachakra Mudra, the traditional B...
Category

Vintage 1960s Thai Other Sculptures

Materials

Bronze