![]() |
Buddha
2nd century, Pakistan
Material Grey schist Dimensions Width: 15 cm Height: 52 cm Depth: 8 cm Finely carved standing on a plinth with two elephants, wearing voluminous robes with cascading folds, his left hand lowered, his face in a benign expression with crisply delineated features and elongated earlobes, his hair arranged in fine curls rising over the usnisha, his face backed by a smooth nimbus. read more ![]() |
![]() |
Buddha
12th century, Bihar, India
Material Grey schist Dimensions Width: 46 cm Height: 77 cm Depth: 23 cm Buddha is sitting cross-legged, in the dhyanasana position. His right hand indicates the bhumisparsamudra testimony, so-called because it makes the earth the witness of his illumination after his victory over the tempting demon and personification of Mara evil. The pippala tree (skt. ashvattha), with the two stupas on either side ove... read more ![]() |
![]() |
Padmapāni
12th century, Bihar, India
Material Black stone Dimensions Width: 39 cm Height: 42 cm Depth: 16 cm Padmapāni is one of the most common epithets for Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion. The deity is standing in the tribhanga position or triple pose on a lotus. Her right hand indicates the sign for charity and compassion, or varada mudra. The left is holding a lotus flower, padma, her distinctive symbol. Her face i... read more ![]() |
![]() |
Yamantaka Yab-Yum
Tibet, 18th century
Material Polychrome wood Yamantaka, the ferocious emanation of Manjusri, is the most complicated and terrible of all the Northern Buddhist divinities. Under this form he conquered the demon king of Death, Yama, who was the populating Tibet in his insatiable thirst for victims. Yamantaka is represented with bull’s head. He is to have sixteen feed, thirty-fo... read more ![]() |
![]() |
Penholder
17th century, Tibet
Material Gold and iron Dimensions Width: 40.5 cm Height: 2.3 cm Depth: 2.3 cm This top quality penholder is formed of two separate parts, featuring a fretwork decoration depicting plant shapes, both engraved and gilded. Three makaras with an elegantly tapered body are rolled up along the penholder, and two lotus buds decorate either end of the penholder which used to hold a bamboo pen. Originally, there were t... read more ![]() |
![]() |
Kapala
18th century, Tibet
Material Bone, copper, silver and gold Dimensions Width: 17 cm Height: 22 cm Depth: 19 cm A triangular double-lotus base with flames bursting from it is supporting a human skullcap. The corners are decorated with three smiling skulls, symbolizing the three main vices which must be destroyed. The cup, held up by the flames, represents the cauldron which believers imagine holds the entire cosmos. Thirty-seven laughing skull... read more ![]() |