Petite Tibetan Lama Figure

This small brass figure from the early 20th century depicts a Lama, a spiritual master and teacher of the Dharma in Tibetan Buddhism. Dressed in monk's attire, he rests in seated mediation atop a low cushion, his legs half-crossed and eyes downcast. He holds his right hand in the dharmachakra mudra, the gesture of teaching, and in his left, holds a flaming jewel close to his chest, an emblem of the precious rarity of the enlightened mind.

Flowing robes drape across the Lama's seated posture, depicted with graceful folds and etched with scrollwork and shou (壽) symbols for longevity. The underside is embossed with the vishvavajra, the crossed vajra, which represents the earth and the absolute stability of the enlightened mind. Shaped of brass with a copper trim, the figure has a golden sheen, softened by a rich patina and minor oxidation.