Monumental Tibetan Bronze Ratnasambhava
Monumental Tibetan Bronze Ratnasambhava. This impressive and finely cast bronze figure represents Ratnasambhava, the Buddha of the South and the embodiment of equanimity and generosity, one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas central to Vajrayana Buddhist cosmology. Created in Tibet during the 14th century, the sculpture stands at an imposing height of 40.5 cm, a scale that immediately conveys its ceremonial importance and the ambition of its commission.
Tibet, 14th cent.
H. 40,5 cm
Provenance: This bronze comes from the distinguished collection of Madame Françoise Leroy-Laveissière, assembled between 1960 and 1990. During this period, she was an Asian art expert at the Hôtel Drouot in Paris and worked closely with the renowned Chinese art specialist Michel Beurdeley. The provenance adds scholarly and historical depth to an already exceptional work, making this sculpture a compelling example of 14th-century Tibetan Buddhist art, notable for its scale, iconographic clarity, and refined aesthetic quality.
Ratnasambhava is shown seated in vajrasana upon a well-articulated double lotus base, the petals crisply modeled and rhythmically arranged. His right hand is lowered in varadamudra, the gesture of supreme generosity and bestowal of blessings, while the left hand rests calmly in his lap, reinforcing the iconography of balance and spiritual abundance. The figure wears a diaphanous dhoti that clings gently to the legs, its subtle folds rendered with great sensitivity, and a flowing scarf that encircles the arms and shoulders, its animated streamers cascading gracefully down the body and lending a sense of movement to the otherwise serene posture.
The bronze is richly adorned with jewelry, including armlets, bracelets, and necklaces, all delicately chased. The cold-gilded face is particularly striking: serene and introspective, with downcast eyes beneath arched brows that flow seamlessly into the bridge of the nose. A raised urna marks the forehead, while the elongated earlobes are fitted with ornate ear ornaments, symbolizing wisdom and renunciation. Traces of blue pigment remain visible in the hair, which is drawn up into a refined chignon crowned with the ratna jewel emblem—Ratnasambhava’s defining attribute—secured by an elegant five-leaf tiara decorated with pattras and curling ribbons.
The sculpture is hollow-cast and remains unsealed, consistent with its age and history. The surface displays gentle wear and minor traces of age, attesting to centuries of devotional use and veneration, without detracting from its powerful presence or sculptural integrity.
