Antique Tibetan Gilt-Bronze Vajrasattva with Gold and Silver Accents

Antique Tibetan Gilt-Bronze Vajrasattva with Gold and Silver Accents.

Late Qing Dynasty, circa 1850–1900

This finely cast antique Tibetan Buddhist bronze depicts Vajrasattva, the Bodhisattva of purification and enlightenment in Vajrayana Buddhism. The figure is seated in serene vajra posture upon a richly modeled lotus throne, embodying spiritual clarity, balance, and ritual authority.

Vajrasattva is shown holding a vajra (dorje) at the heart with the right hand and a bell (ghanta) resting in the left hand, symbolizing the union of wisdom and compassion. The deity is adorned in traditional royal bodhisattva attire, including an elaborate crown, earrings, necklaces, armlets, and anklets, executed with remarkable detail.

The sculpture is cast using the lost-wax method in copper alloy, with extensive fire-gilded gold applied to the face, crown, jewelry, and decorative elements. Areas of silvering are visible in the garments and ornamental details, providing visual contrast and enhancing the sculptural depth—an established technique in high-quality Tibetan and Sino-Tibetan bronzes of the Qing period. Natural wear to the gold and silver surfaces, combined with a deep, undisturbed patina, is consistent with age and long-term devotional use.

The figure is hollow-cast, with a hand-hammered copper base plate featuring ritual consecration holes, confirming its original religious function. Tool marks, subtle casting irregularities, aged oxidation, and mineral accretions throughout the surface further attest to its pre-modern manufacture.

Origin

Sino-Tibetan

(Tibetan regions under Qing influence, possibly Eastern Tibet or monastery workshops)

Period

Late Qing Dynasty, circa 1850–1900

Materials

Copper alloy bronze with fire-gilded gold and silver accents

Condition

Good antique condition with expected wear to gilding and silvering, natural oxidation, and patina consistent with age. No evidence of modern restoration or artificial aging.

Summary

This is a genuine 19th-century Tibetan Vajrasattva, enhanced with gold and silver detailing, representing a high-quality example of late Qing Buddhist bronze sculpture. Its refined iconography, precious metal accents, and preserved patina make it suitable for serious collectors, scholars, ritual use, or inclusion in a curated Himalayan art collection.

9 inch high x 8 inch wide