Footnotes

銅錯銀桑波堅贊像
西藏 十五/十六世紀

Tibetan inscription
༈ མཁས་བརྩུན་བཟང་པོ་རྒྱལ་མཚན་ལ་ན་མོ།།

Transliteration
[1] § mkhas b[t]sun bzang po rgyal mtshan la na mo | |
[ ] emendation

Translation
Homage to the learned and righteous [monk]¹ Zangpo Gyeltsen.

¹Traditionally, the terms 'learned and righteous' are employed to designate a monk.

Himalayan Art Resources item no.16843

This tour de force in bronze depicts its subject with a cheerful countenance, dressed in exquisitely chased robes modeled with naturalistic folds. Bright silver inlaid eyes mark the enlightened inner consciousness of this well-nourished young master. A plain inner robe is secured in accordion folds around his waist with a threaded sash around his diaphragm. Tucked underneath is a vest suited for Tibet's cold climate with lavish hems of lotus scrolls intertwining over a stippled ground. Over his shoulders is a loosely draped patchwork robe consisting of plain sections bordered by cumulous cloud brocades and a hem of crisply defined sprouted lotus roundels. The outer robe slackens across his lap revealing the plain underside of its hem in undulating folds, adding to the figure's sense of inner calm.

Several Tibetan masters are known as Zangpo Gyeltsen. As the textured cap is worn by monks of the Sakya Order, of particular interest are the Sakya monks Thukse Zangpo Gyeltsen (14th century; thugs sras bzang po rgyal mtshan; BDRC P2616), the 6th Abbot of Shalu Monastery (1414–1493; BDRC P3231), and the King of Mustang Amapel (c.1380–1440; a ma dpal) who received the ordination name Zangpo Gyeltsen. An attribution to a figure within the umbrella of Sakya schools would also be consistent with the sculpture's brassy, non-gilded, and prominently chased style, as well as its lotus petals. The slender shape of the petals is influenced by the sculpture style of the Early Ming court who dispatched high quality Buddhist bronzes to prominent Sakya monasteries as diplomatic gifts and inspired mimicry among Tibetan artists into the following century.

The figure compares closely with a bronze portrait of Sanggye Pel sold at Bonhams, New York, 14 March 2017, lot 3273. Also see a Jonang lama of similar scale—especially the treatment of robes spilling over the upper edge of the base—sold at Bonhams, Hong Kong, 3 October 2017, lot 26.

Published
Rossi & Rossi Ltd, Homage to the Holy, London, 2003, no.41.

Provenance
Rossi & Rossi Ltd, London, 2007.