Expert’s note: The incredible quality of the meticulously cast details seen in the present figure is practically unheard of both in its fineness and detail. Thus, looking at the bronze through a 10x magnification (and way upwards) does not in any way diminish the breathtaking visual appearance. Rare and highly recommended!

Tibet. Exquisitely cast seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base, her right hand lowered in varada mudra and her left holding a lotus stalk coming to full bloom at the shoulder, wearing a diaphanous dhoti with minutely incised pleats mirrored by the sash draped across her chest, her serene face sensitively modeled with almond-shaped eyes, gently arched brows centered by an urna, and full lips forming a subtle smile, the hair adorned with beaded jewelry and topped by a lotiform jewel. The base sealed.

Provenance: From a private collection in Germany.
Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, few tiny nicks, light surface scratches, rubbing to the gilt, and casting flaws. The seal plate is probably a later replacement. The wear on this piece is consistent with what one would expect from a small copper alloy figure which has been carried around and worshiped for an extended period of time.

Weight: 42.5 g
Dimensions: Height 4.6 cm

Chöying Dorje (1604-1674), the Tenth Karmapa, is one of the three most important Lamas in Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He was the brilliant and eccentric tenth incarnation of the Karmapa lineage, who had to flee into exile during the Tibetan civil war of 1639-1642. During his exile (1648-1672), Chöying Dorje travelled extensively through Bhutan, Amdo and Kham in East Tibet, Burma and Nepal, founding monasteries along his route. Traveling through dangerous lands he often concealed his identity, wearing common clothes, and was at times robbed and reduced to begging for food in a region where he didn't speak the dialect. He wrote books on various subjects, composed songs, and made an enormous number of paintings and sculptures, although only a small number can be attributed to him today.

Literature comparison:
The present lot is based on a larger copper image of Sarasvati, reputedly cast by Chöying Dorje and currently in the custody of Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, illustrated by Ulrich Von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, Volume Two, Hong Kong, 2001, page 799. In his article ‘The Sculpture of Chöying Dorje, Tenth Karmapa’ for the catalog ‘The Black Hat Eccentric: Artistic Visions of the Tenth Karmapa’, published by the Rubin Museum, Ian Alsop identifies several later versions of the present lot, found in various collections including his own, see figures 8.38-43. These are re-casts which lack the typical wear of an ancient figure and are made from either brass or refined copper. They also have later added bases in form of a rock and several worshippers, thus the main figure is smaller than the present lot.