TIBET XVIIIe SIÈCLE Lot n° 84

= Gilded bronze lama statue Seated in vajrasana, wearing a monastic robe composed of a patchwork of pieces separated by bands incised with elegant floral scrolls, hands in front of chest in dharmachakra mudra. The face is round, with a prominent nose, full lips and wide-set eyes, and a bare skull highlighted with black pigment. Serene, benevolent expression. H. 49.5 cm NOTE This statue, rare and spectacular in both size and quality, testifies to the mastery achieved by Himalayan craftsmen. They are masters not only of cast iron, but also of chasing and repoussé. The rich mercury gilding typical of the region enhances the overall effect. This work is part of a revival of the influence of Tibetan Buddhism within the Chinese empire. Tibetan Buddhism had undergone unprecedented expansion in the 13th century through the Mongol conquests, particularly among the nomads of Far East Asia, but had also become the state religion in China under the Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368). In 1644, the Manchus, a nomadic population from northern China, took power in China and founded the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911). Their emperors, fervent Buddhists, set about spreading and patronizing Tibetan Buddhism throughout their empire, whose territory reached an unprecedented size in the 18th century. This led to important artistic, political and diplomatic exchanges between Tibetan monasteries and Chinese power, as witnessed by our piece, whose quality would probably have been destined for a wealthy temple or monastery. CONDITION Wear to the gilt, oxidations, age-consistent wear, missing ribbon to his right side, small dent to his left shoulder