TIBET, 15TH-16TH CENTURY

The present plaque depicts Manjushri mounted on a lion. Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, is one of the most popular deities in Tantric Buddhism and appears in at least 20 iconographic forms in religious texts, ranging from peaceful to wrathful manifestations. Adorned in lavish jewelry, including layered necklaces, round pendant earrings and a petaled crown, Manjushri raises his right hand above his head – a signature gesture in which he typically holds a flaming sword, symbolizing the sword of wisdom. His left hand is positioned in dharmachakramudra, the gesture of teaching. He is flanked by two lotus stems with budding blossoms, another of his key attributes, though these are more commonly depicted with manuscripts. The lion on which he mounts is rendered dynamically, its mouth open and eyes bulging, as it leaps forward with its back legs extended and front paws curling inward. The background of the plaque features swirling vines/clouds, evoking the celestial setting in which the deity appears.