A FINE AND RARE SILVER AND COPPER-INLAID PARCEL-GILT FIGURE OF A KARMAPA TIBET, 16TH/17TH CENTURY

finely and intricately cast seated atop a raised double lotus pedestal base, the figure seated in vajrasana, with his right hand held in vitarkamudra and his left hand resting on his lap and supporting a vessel containing the elixir of immortality, amrta, adorned with elaborate robes incised and inlaid with copper and silver with foliate designs, with parcel-gilt details, the face with eyes downcast and benevolent expression, flanked by prominent ears and wearing a tall black abbot's hat, sealed, the base incised with a foliate medallion

Purchased in London, 1989.

In excellent general condition; base sealed; general surface wear in areas, concentrated along the lotus lappet base and the figure's right arm.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present figure represents the Ninth Karmapa Wanchuk Dorje (1556-1603), one of the most important figures of the Kagyu Order in Tibetan Buddhism. Born in the Trewo region of eastern Tibet, Wanchuk Dorje is renowned for his writings on meditation, in particular on a system known as Mahamudra, a body of teaching that represents the new translation school in Tibetan Buddhism. According to legend, he was heard reciting mantras in the womb and when he was born he sat for three days meditating and declared that he was the Karmapa. Wanchuk Dorje played a key role in ensuring the continuity of the Kagyu lineage and its tradition of academic excellence. He also strived to make his writings readily available and, more importantly, understandable to a wider audience while retaining much of his predecessors' philosophy.

Seated in meditation on a lotus throne with his eyes slightly open in an introspective gaze, the present figure is closely comparable to one illustrated in Zhongguo zangchuan fojiao diaosu quanji, vol. 3, 2002, pl. 119, found in Lhasa and attributed to the Ming dynasty. See also a gilt-bronze figure of Karmapa attributed to the 14^th and 15^th centuries, included in Helmut Uhlig, On the Path to Enlightenment, Zurich, 1995, pl. 128, from the Berti Aschmann Foundation of Tibetan Art at the Museum Rietberg, Zurich, together with a slightly later example, pl. 129, from the same collection. Compare another 15^th century example of Karmapa published in Zhongguo zangchuan fojiao jin tong zaoxiang yishu, vol. 2, Beijing, 2000, pl. 223.  

The use of parcel-gilt decoration for the robe seen on this figure is highly decorative and unusual. The adoration of brightly coloured deities has a long tradition in Tibetan Buddhism where sculptures were frequently painted or adorned with precious stones. The technique of parcel-gilt decoration, combined with luxurious silver and copper inlay, was undoubtedly employed to enhance the importance and beauty of this piece.     

One of the earliest images of Karmapa wearing the characteristic black abbot's hat can be found on a tangka dated to pre-1227, from the collection of the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg included in the exhibition Wisdom and Compassion. The Sacred Art of Tibet, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1992, cat. no. 133. The black hat, which bears a double vajra, was originally offered to the fifth Karmapa by the Yongle Emperor as a recognition of his spiritual position.