Antique Fire-Gilded Tsongkhapa Lama in Bronze – Ladakh – 18th–19th Century – Lot 435

Je Tsongkhapa Lama – Fire-Gilded Bronze, Ladakh (18th-19th Century)

A museum sculpture of the great reformer Je Tsongkhapa. A spiritual masterpiece from the Himalayan region, characterized by exceptionally rich fire gilding and a deep devotional patina.

Estimated value: €3,800 – €5,200

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Expertise & Microscopic Analysis

Recent microscopic analysis (Dino-Lite) confirms the exceptional age and authenticity of this object. The robes of the Lama are decorated with hand-chiseled engravings, a technique that attests to superior craftsmanship. The fire gilding displays an organic wear pattern in which the copper-rich bronze alloy shines beautifully through the gold on the prominent parts of the sculpture. Deep mineral oxidation in the grooves proves decades of natural patina formation in a high-altitude Himalayan environment.

Icoonography & Symbolism Je Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug school, is depicted in the Dharmachakra Mudra (setting the wheel of Dharma in motion). The two lotus flowers at his side traditionally carry the sword of wisdom and the book of knowledge. This statue from Ladakh forms a powerful silhouette and radiates timeless authority. An essential piece for the serious collector of Himalayan art or as a central spiritual focal point in a soothing interior.