TIBET, XIVE SIÈCLE

This small gilt-bronze sculpture can be identified as Jambhala, the Buddhist deity of wealth, whose iconography is immediately legible through the figure’s corpulent form and opulent adornment. Seated in a relaxed, asymmetrical posture, Jambhala’s rounded abdomen and sensuous modeling evoke abundance and material plenitude, qualities central to his function as a bestower of prosperity. The deity’s elaborate jewelry and inset cabochon-like ornaments heighten the visual emphasis on richness and auspicious display, while the presence of the mongoose alludes to his role as a dispenser of treasure. The compact proportions and remains of blue polychrome along the hair are indicative that this bronze was situated within a Tibetan context. Other portable examples from the period include a standing Jambhala (Christie's, New York, 26 September 2023) and another seated example with cabochon settings (Christie's, New York, 20 March 2019, lot 602).