
Mark Rasmussen
International Director
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HK$160,000 - HK$240,000
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International Director
銅鎏金一世班禪喇嘛羅桑確吉堅贊像
清 十七/十八世紀
The First Panchen Lama of the Gelug order, Lobzang Chokyi Gyeltsen (1570-1662) is portrayed young and authoritative, raising his right hand in the gesture of explication (vitarka mudra). His high cheekbones, prominent nose, and pointed cranial dome serve to identify his distinctive portrait. These features are also indicative of an artistic trend towards realism in the Qing dynasty. Compare to another of his portraits with an almost identical treatment of the figure and vestiture sold at China Guardian, Beijing, 2 June 2019, lot 3115 (HAR 7727).
Lobzang Chokyi Gyeltsen gained considerable prominence as the abbot of important monasteries, most notably Sera and Tashilunpo in Central Tibet. He was a close ally of the Fifth Dalai Lama who consolidated Tibet under Gelug power and formed strong alliances with the Qing court and Mongol khans. The Fifth Dalai Lama anointed Lobzang Chokyi Gyeltsen with the title of Panchen Lama, thereby initiating this reincarnation lineage whose spiritual authority in the Gelug order is second only to the Dalai Lama.
Provenance
Private Swiss Collection since 1994