Item: Teacher (Lama) - Tsongkapa

The gilt metal figure undoubtedly depicts Tsongkhapa, one of the most erudite scholars of Tibetan Buddhism in the 15th century and the founder of the Gelug school. This figure derives from one of the five iconographic forms revealed to Khedrub Geleg Pal Zangpo in a vision. Tsongkhapa is seated in vajra posture on a moon disk, which rests upon a raised double-lotus base. He is shown wearing the traditional attire of an ordained monk, comprising three robes made from patches of old cloth, giving them a distinctive patchwork appearance. His hands are held in a teaching gesture, symbolizing the turning of the wheel of Dharma. He holds two lotus stalks that would have blossomed at shoulder level, one supporting the Prajnaparamita text and the other a sharp wisdom-producing sword. The sword and Prajnaparamita text signifies Tsongkhapa’s ability to cut through mental afflictions and persevere in Buddhist study, and are common attributes of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom and knowledge. This symbolizes Tsongkhapa's connection to Manjushri and the results of increasing wisdom that practitioners experience by meditating on his physical characteristics. His face exudes a serene and benign expression, with three lines on his neck reminiscent of the standard Buddha appearance. Tsongkhapa also wears a pandita hat, a distinctive mark of a learned Buddhist scholar, originally worn by monks of India who have attained an advanced degree in Buddhist studies. Due to the overall round face and fingers with the yellow-gold gilding, this finely crafted sculpture was most likely produced in the late 17th to early 18th century China of the Kangxi, Yongzheng or Qianlong periods.

Sotheby's would like to thank Shinzo Shiratori for his assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.

Shinzo Shiratori 8-2024