Vajrapāṇi

Unknown (Tibetan)

Item type:

sculpture

Date of creation:

19th century

Height:

12.0 cm  (4 3/4 in.)

Technique / Medium:

fire gilded-copper alloy, pigment and set glass pieces

Place of creation:

Zhongguo [China] (中国 )

Description

The figure is an irate form of the Vajrapāṇi bodhisattva; he grips the vajra in his raised right hand and with the left holds the ghanta to form an apotropaic and threatening gesture consisting in extending the index and the little finger externally while flexing the other fingers. With a diadem of skulls, the gods leans to the right, stomping on two snakes rolled up under his feet.

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Ghanta [2403]

Bibliographic references

Santarelli, Cristina. "Tibetan art collection at the Museo d'Arte Orientale, Turin", Music in Art 34/1-2 (2009) 337-345.

RIdIM record id

3151