Nepalese Figurative Sculptures

19th Century Gilt Bronze Statue in Yab-Yum, a representation of the primordial union of wisdom and compassion. Yab-Yum represents the union of male and female principles with Vajrabh...

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...

An arch shaped piece with high relief carving of a multi-armed deity standing on a winged feline and wielding several weapons. A small figure appears below right. The fierce female demon buffalo slayer carved in openwork with her principal two hands holding...

A lovely Nepalese gilt bronze figure of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, early to mid 20th century. The Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom ...

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...

A nice vintage early to mid-20th century gilt bronze sculpture of the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara in his four armed form, known as Chaturbuhja, or Chenrezig in Tibet. Chenrezig, a form of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion (known as Guan Yin or Kwan Yin in Chinese), sits in vajrasana upon a high double lotus pedestal. One pair of hands is clasped in prayer at heart level, the other pair of hands raised upwards at shoulder lever and holding discreet attributes, a mala (prayer beads) in one hand, a lotus blossom in the other. Chenrezig is dressed in an elaborately patterned floral dhoti that covers his lower half. His torso bare, shoulders covered with a shawl and scarves that billow out around him. He is festooned with jewels, necklaces, bracelets, armlets, earrings, belt and a five pointed crown. The earrings studded with coral. The crown studded with turquoise. His face is cold painted with beautiful details. The hair has been pigmented blue with crushed lapis, indicating his peaceful nature. The copper base plate is inscribed with a visvajra (double vajra...