A gilt-bronze head of a female deity, likely Tara or Prajnaparamita, Tibet, 11th / 12th century

Xanadu Gallery, San Francisco.

Peaceful Wind, Santa Fe.

California Private Collection.

Similarities between styles that dominated the Kathmandu Valley during the Thakuri period (which approximately spanned from 7th to 12th century) such as the tall and elaborate tripartite crown and simple but large and prominent circular earrings allude to a period of Tibetan sculpture where Newar artists reentered important cultural centers of Tibet known as the Second Propagation period (Chi-dar in Tibetan). See a seated figure of Tara at The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore dated to 11th-century Nepal for comparison (accession no. 54.3127).

The size and masterful styling of this richly gilded bronze head of a female Buddha (likely Tara or Prajnaparmita, who were most prominent at the time of creation) indicates the sculpture it belonged to was a large and significant commission. If standing, this figure is more likely to have represented Tara and if seated, it is more likely to have been Prajnaparamita.