TIBET OR MONGOLIA, 17TH CENTURY

This richly-gilded bronze figure depicts Akshobhya Buddha in the sambhogakaya or enjoyment-body form. The flowing ribbon and the jeweled ornaments on the present work appears to be a strong stylistic precursor to the gilt bronze Amitayus sculptures the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors commissioned in celebration of their birthdays, such as an example sold at Sotheby’s Paris, 16 June 2022, lot 52. However, the tight lotus base on the present work echoes a more archaic style stemming from sixteenth century bronzes made in central Tibet.
The Transcendental Buddha Akshobhya, meaning "He Who is Unshakeable," is recognizable by his peaceful, bodhisattva-like appearance, the right hand in earth-touching gesture, and the left palm upturned holding a vajra. While most vajras on similar sculptural works were lost, the current work is distinguished for retaining the vajra in the left hand. Akshobhya Buddha is one of the Five Wisdom Buddhas, a product of the Adibuddha, who represents consciousness as an aspect of reality. Akshobhya is associated with the eastern direction and is Lord of the second of the Five Buddha Families described in the tantras; he is also featured in the corpus of Mahayana sacred literature, most notably the Vimalakirti Nirdesha Sutra. The great Tibetan yogi, Milarepa, and the important scholar, Sakya Pandita, are known to have achieved complete Buddhahood in Abhirati, the Pure Land governed by Akshobhya.