A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF YAMA DHARMARAJA


QIANLONG PERIOD (1735-1796)Cast in two parts, with original consecrations of both the figure and base intact.Himalayan Art Resources item no.61658 17.8 cm (7 in.) high
|乾隆時期（1735-1796）銅鎏金閻魔護法像According to the Vajrabhairava Tantra, Manjushri took the form of Yama Dharmaraja to subdue Death ('Yama'), the personification of endless suffering through the cycle of death and rebirth. As this tantra is widely practiced in Tibetan Buddhism, Yama Dharmaraja can be found as an important wisdom deity in all traditions including the Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug schools. He holds special significance for the Gelugpa, who regard him, alongside Shadbhuja Mahakala and Vaishravana, as one of the order's three principal protectors.This finely executed gilded bronze is full of power and vigor. The buffalo-headed deity is classically depicted astride his bull mount, waiving a skull-headed mace in his right hand. Yama Dharmaraja's bulging eyes, bared fangs, and flaming hair are especially evocative of his ferocious nature. Further details such as the flaring nostrils and the delicate jewels of his bull-mount indicate a level of craftsmanship on par with imperial workshops.Compare to a similar sized bronze Yama Dharmaraja sold at Bonhams, New York, 18 September 2013, lot 23. Also see other examples published in Pal, The Art of Tibet, New York, 1969, p.102, pl.72; von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong 1981, pp.550-1, no.157E; and Neven, Art Lamaique, Bruxelles, 1975, pl.87.ProvenanceBeagle Gallery, London, 1992