STATUE DU SIXIÈME SAKYA TRIDZIN, SAKYA PANDITA KUNGA GYALTSEN, EN ALLIAGE DE CUIVRE DORÉ TIBET, XIVE SIÈCLE A Tibetan inscription at the back of the lotus base, translated: 'The precious statue [of] the great Sakya Paṇ[ḍita] was commissioned by Gyeltso for the benefit of [his] kind mother and father.' Himalayan Art Resources item no. 4847 13.3 cm (5 1/4 in.) high Footnotes: A GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF THE SIXTH SAKYA TRIDZIN, SAKYA PANDITA KUNGA GYALTSEN TIBET, 14TH CENTURY 西藏 十四世紀 銅鎏金六世薩迦法王 薩迦班智達貢噶堅贊像 Provenance: With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1970s Finely modeled and incised, this bronze depicts Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251), a spiritual ancestor of the Panchen Lama lineage within the Gelug tradition, and a great Tibetan scholar. He is one of the 'five founding fathers' of the Sakya order of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1249, under the Yuan dynasty, he became Viceroy of Tibet. Here, Sakya Pandita is commemorated with the book-and-sword attributes of Manjushri, conveying his perfected wisdom and skillful means, resulting in his attainment of Buddhahood. Distinctive features of the present bronze, such as the rice-grain motif on the hem of the master's densely patterned robe, the delineation of his finger joints, the use of a red-tinged gilding, and the large-beaded rim around the foot of the base, are also shared by the sculpture of the Khasa Malla kingdom, which ruled parts of Western Nepal and Tibet between the 12th-14th century. They strongly suggest that this sculpture originates from the vicinity of Tibet's southern border, perhaps Mustang (c.f. Lo Bue (ed.), Wonders of Lo: The Artistic Heritage of Mustang, 2010). For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com