A PAINTED CLAY AND WOOD FIGURE OF PADMSAMBHAVA, TIBET, 18TH - EARLY 19TH CENTURY Seated on a lotus base above a separately carved rectangular wood pedestal, holding a script in his left, and the right in abhayamudra, dressed in voluminous garments neatly painted with a floral gilt pattern above a polychrome lacquer ground, the back finely carved with folds. The skin painted in gilt, the face with elegant eyes, an aquiline nose, a thin beard above the red lips, surmounted by a red lacquered hat with floral and geometric gilt decorations.

Inscriptions: To the back 'Kunzang Tenpe Nyima La Namo' (with respect to Kunzang Tenpe Nyima)

Provenance: A notable private collector in Kensington, London, United Kingdom.
Condition: Good condition with some old wear, small nicks and losses, the right arm with a crack and loosened, the headdress with small cracks and associated old repairs, minor touchups here and there. Original canvas sealing with a crossed double vajra in gilt.

Weight: 1,596 g
Dimensions: Height 27.8 cm (incl. base)

This charismatic work depicts the legendary Indian pandita Padmasambhava. Known as Guru Rinpoche to Tibetans, and by many other names which reflect his multiple forms, Padmasambhava is credited with establishing Buddhism in Tibet. In the 8^th century, the Indian abbot Shantarakshita and the Tibetan chögyal or dharma king Trisong Detsen invited the tantrika Padmasambhava to make the arduous journey to Tibet.

Along the way, he encountered and subdued the many local spirits, gods and goddesses and bound them by oath as sworn protectors of Buddhism in Tibet. Upon his arrival in Ü province, Padmasambhava deterred the local spirits from hindering the construction of Tibet's first monastery, Samye.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 30 June 2020, lot 6036
Price: HKD 75,000 or approx. EUR 9,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A polychrome wood figure of Padmasambhava, Tibet, 16^th-17^th century
Expert remark: Note the size (36.7 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 30 June 2020, lot 6079
Price: HKD 47,500 or approx. EUR 6,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A polychrome wood figure of Padmasambhava, Tibet, 18^th century
Expert remark: Note the size (38 cm)

13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU. 西藏十八世紀至十九世紀初彩繪粘土木雕蓮花生大士
此尊蓮花生大士像頭戴蓮花帽，帽飾高豎，面祥慈藹，寬額潤面，細眉彎曲，雙眼圓睜，五官深刻，相貌莊嚴，身著刻花紋袈裟，衣袍褶迭線條流暢；左手持書，右手施大無畏印。皮膚描金。

款識：背面 'Kunzang Tenpe Nyima La Namo' (關於Kunzang Tenpe Nyima)

來源：英國倫敦肯辛頓知名私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，有一些磨損、小劃痕和缺損，右臂有裂痕和鬆動，頭上有小裂痕和相應的修補，多處輕微修飾。原裝帆布密封，帶有描金雙金剛杵。

重量：1,596 克
尺寸：總高27.8 厘米

這件造像塑造了傳奇的印度班智達相蓮花生大士，為藏傳佛教之開山祖師。公元八世紀，蓮師應藏王赤松德贊與寂護邀請，由印度啟程前往西藏弘法。一路上，他以神通戰勝了當地原生的鬼神與苯教的巫師，創立了最早的藏地寺廟——桑耶寺，使藏民得以改宗正統佛教。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2020年6月 30日，lot 6036
價格：HKD 75,000（相當於今日EUR 9,700）
描述：十六至十七世紀 藏傳木雕彩繪蓮花生大師坐像
專家評論：請注意尺寸(36.7 厘米) 。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2020年6月 30日，lot 6079
價格：HKD 47,500（相當於今日EUR 6,000）
描述：十八世紀藏傳木雕彩繪蓮花生大師坐像
專家評論：請注意尺寸(38 厘米)。