A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF PALDEN LHAMO

TIBET, 17TH CENTURY

Details

A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF PALDEN LHAMO
TIBET, 17TH CENTURY
The fierce goddess seated sideways on a flayed skin atop a mule, over a rocky oval base incised with wave patterns, holding a skull cup in one hand, the other arm raised, a garland of severed heads over her shoulders, adorned in beaded jewelry, a snake and a billowing scarf, her wrathful face with bulging eyes and a third eye centered by flaming brows, her wrathful fangs gripping a prone figure, her flame-like hair containing serpents and topped with a skull diadem, heavily gilt with pigment remaining
6 ½ in. (16.5 cm.) high

Provenance

The Sporer Collection, New Jersey, acquired by 4 March 1973

Literature

Himalayan Art Resource (himalayanart.org), item no. 24036

Lot Essay

The wrathful form of Shri Lakshmi, Palden Lhamo, which translates to glorious goddess, is the principle female wisdom protector of Tantric Buddhism, as well as the main companion of the enlightened protector Mahakala. She is almost always depicted riding side-saddle atop her mount, the mule, through an ocean of blood.

Compare with a similar work in the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University, which also depicts the protectoress with a richly gilt surface and red polychromy details (M. Rhie, Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, 1991, p.303, fig.116).

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