A large copper alloy figure of a lama, Tibet, circa 14th century

French Private Collection.

This large finely cast lama sits alert with vivid gaze, the right hand calling the earth to witness in bhumisparshamudra. He wears a wonderfully articulated dhonka or inner shirt. The quality of the portraiture and detailed depiction of the youthful facial features and robes closely relates to a Sakya lama illustrated in Donald Dinwiddie (ed.), Portraits of the Masters, London, 2003, pl. 80, and sold at Bonhams New York, 14th March 2017, lot 3280.

See also an earlier gilt figure from the Nyingjei Lam collection with related features, included in the exhibition Casting the Divine: Sculptures of the Nyingjei Lam Collection, Rubin Museum of Art, New York, 2012-2013, and sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 2nd October 2017, lot 3119.