Padma Sambhava, Guru Rinpoche, Buddhist master

Padmasambhava on a lotus pedestal. The statue is worked in filigree, gilded and silver-plated, set with colored stones and dzi beads. Known in Tibetan as Guru Rinpoche, he is regarded as one of the central figures of tantric Buddhism and is venerated in the Nyingma tradition as the 'second Buddha'.

Padmasambhava is seated in lalit asana, the relaxed royal-ease pose. The right leg is gently extended forward, while the left leg is closely bent. In his right hand he holds a vajra, the left hand rests on the left leg and carries a skull cup, kapala, with an inserted vase. His staff, the khatvanga, is held in the crook of his left arm. The figure wears a royal robe and the lotus hat.

Robe and pedestal are worked in filigree. Thin wire is formed into spirals, filled with small arched elements, joined into an ornamental pattern, that is articulated through the stone setting. Three dzi beads are integrated into the pedestal. The filigree is giving the mantle a brocade-like appearance.

The statue follows iconographic conventions of Vajrayana art in the Kathmandu Valley, in which posture, gesture, and ornament are brought together in a balanced composition.

Padmasambhava 

Statue, copper, traditional lost-wax cast, decorated with fine filigree, silver- and gold-plated, accented with colored stones. The figure is patinated. The face is set in gold. Handcrafted in Nepal.

• Height: 9.4" / 24 cm
• Width: 5.7" / 14.5 cm
• Depth: 3.7" / 9.5 cm
• Weight: 1,560 g

NOTE
The facial painting is a cold gold application and water-soluble.