Tibetan Gelug Lama with 1962 Nepal Export Seal – Fire-Gilt Bronze, c.1750–1850

A documented Tibetan portrait bronze

This fire-gilt figure belongs to the portrait tradition of the Gelug school, where eminent teachers were represented not as generalized Buddhas but as identifiable members of a monastic lineage. The tall pandita hat, layered robes and compact seated posture immediately place the figure within that clerical tradition. One hand is raised in a teaching gesture while the other supports a bound text, emphasizing scholarship and transmission rather than devotional iconography alone.

Why the surface matters

The sculpture is a hollow copper-alloy cast with an open base. Inside, remnants of the original earthen core remain visible together with irregular casting deposits. Across the exterior, old gilding survives strongly in recessed passages, around the robe borders and in protected areas, while higher points show darker exposed alloy and natural handling wear. The combination of casting structure, surface wear and surviving gold is consistent with traditional mercury-amalgam fire gilding.

The 1962 Nepal export seal

The attached paper tag with red lacquer seal is an important part of the object's history. It is dated 1962 and records official export through Nepal. The seal does not date the manufacture of the bronze; rather, it provides a fixed point in the object's later provenance. Tibetan sculptures frequently circulated through Nepal before entering Western collections, and this surviving tag documents that stage of its history.

Dating and attribution

The figure is catalogued to approximately 1750–1850. The date is based on the sculptural type, handling of the robes, casting method, preserved core material and age pattern of the gilding. The iconography is compatible with portraits of senior Gelug masters, including Panchen Lama-type images, but no individual incarnation is assigned without an inscription.

Catalogue data

• Origin: Tibet
• Date: c.1750–1850
• Material: fire-gilt copper alloy / bronze
• Dimensions: H 16.7 × W 10 cm
• Weight: 600 g
• Provenance: Nepal export seal dated 1962

Preserved in antique condition with old gilding, natural wear, dark accretions and original core remnants visible inside the open base. The export label remains attached and should be regarded as part of the object's documented history.

Each object is examined before it is offered: material, casting or carving technique, surface, and signs of age are compared with documented references. You will receive a certificate of authenticity and an official invoice detailing the period, material, and available provenance.

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