A GILT FIGURE OF VAJRAPANI, TIBET, 17TH-18TH CENTURYThe wrathful deity standing in pratyalidhasana on prostrate figures above a lotus base, his right hand raised holding a vajra and in his left hand a ghanta, his ferocious face surmounted by a fire-scroll hair and diadem, wearing a tiger-skin dhoti and celestial scarf, with a long snake draped around his back, and small figurines along his belly. The base sealed and incised with a double vajra. The figure and base separately cast.Provenance: From a private collection in Southampton, United Kingdom.Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, few nicks, small dents, light surface scratches, and some casting flaws.Weight: 782.6 gDimensions: Height 14.4 cmVajrapani is extensively represented in Buddhist iconography as one of the earliest three protective deities or bodhisattvas surrounding the Buddha, as he protects Buddha and manifests his power.Literatureparison:Compare a related figure of Vajradhara, illustrated in Theplete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Buddhist Statues of Tibet, no. 171.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 11 September 2019, lot 365Price: USD 7,500 or approx.EUR 8,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A gilt-bronze figure of Vajrapani, Tibet, 16th-17th centuryExpert remark:pare the related pose and fine embellishments. Note the smaller size (10.5 cm) and slightly earlier dating.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2012, lot 798Price: USD 12,500 or approx.EUR 15,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A gilt bronze figure of Vajrapani, Tibet or Tibeto-Chinese, 17th/18th centuryExpert remark:pare the related pose, fine embellishments, and size (14.6 cm). Note the wood base.十七至十八世紀西藏銅鎏金金剛手菩薩鑄造極其精細，大步跨立在蓮花座上。菩薩右手舉起，手持金剛杵，左手持金剛鈴。菩薩怒目圓睜呈忿怒相，頸飾珠釧，身材魁梧威猛，身穿虎皮、佩戴串珠項鍊和鑲嵌花卉首飾。火焰狀頭髮用葉冠固定。封印板整齊地刻有雙金剛杵。造像與底座分開鑄造。