A GILT-LACQUER BRONZE FIGURE OF SHADAKSHARI AVALOKITESHVARA TIBETO-CHINESE, 16TH / 17TH CENTURY |

cast in vajraparyankasana with the principal hands in namaskara mudra, the outer proper left hand raised and holding a blossom at the shoulder, with an elaborate crown, extravagantly beaded jewelry, and celestial sashes adorning the body and slender limbs, all raised on a double-lotus base 

The Chang Foundation Collection.

Jintongfo zaoxiang tulu/Buddhist Images in Gilt Metal, Taipei, 1993, pl. 34.

In overall good condition, with expected wear to the gilt-lacquer. The base plate missing, and with minor dents and casting flaws along the edges of the lotus base. Possible minute losses to the tips of the sashes flanking tiara.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Sanskrit name Shadakshari literally translates to 'of six syllables,' referring to the six-syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara: om mani padme hum, 'glory to the jewel of the lotus.' The propagation of this mantra owes in part to the teachings of Guru Chos-dbang (1212-1273) of the Nyingma sect, according to Gilles Béguin, Dieux du Tibet, Suilly-la-Tour, 2018, p. 63. In this form, Avalokiteshvara is a protector of Tibet and the Potala monastery. The Dalai Lama is an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, and the name of the monastery refers to Potalaka, the bodhisattva's home.