A copper alloy stupa, Tibet, circa 13th century

Swiss Private Collection.

The tiered upper section with closed lotus finial on this stupa is associated with the Kadampa sect which revived Tibetan Buddhism after the 11th century. Another copper alloy stupa, closely related to the present example in the British Museum, London, is illustrated by W. Zwalf, Buddhism. Art and Faith, London, 1985, pl .198, where a further stupa from this group, now in the Newark Museum, is discussed. Its contents were examined and found to include barley grains, dated by radiocarbon analysis to circa 1230. Stupas of this form are also depicted on a 10th century black stone stele depicting Manjushri from the David R. Nalin collection, illustrated by Melissa R. Kerin, Selections from the David R. Nalin Himalayan Art Collection, New York, 2009, pg. 10.

A similar example was sold in our Paris rooms, 16th June 2022, lot 108.