Portrait of an unidentified Tibetan lama (teacher) / Artist Unknown, Tibet or Nepal
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1995/1.57
- Title
- Portrait of an unidentified Tibetan lama (teacher)
- Artist Nationality
- Tibetan or Nepalese
- Medium and Support
- bronze
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- Nepal (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Nepal (nation)
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Thakur Rup Chand
- Style/Group/Movement
- Buddhist
- Dimensions
- 21 cm x 12 cm x 10.8 cm (8 1/4 in. x 4 3/4 in. x 4 1/4 in.)
- Primary Object Classification
- Sculpture
- Primary Object Type
- casting
- Physical Description
- A very finely hollow cast bronze portrait sculpture of a seated figure, with the lotus dais and pointed monk's cap cast in one piece with the figure.
- The monk is shown seated in the padmasana (lotus) pose, with each foot resting sole-upward on the opposite knee. In his right hand, he holds a vajra (a double-pronged scepter) and simultaneously makes the vitarka gesture for teaching. His left hand, resting on his lap, holds a bell. His costume consists of a dhoti, which is knotted high on his torso; a short-sleeved shirt, crossed over his chest and decorated with incised scroll patterns, with a fret design at the border; and an overrobe that wraps around his left shoulder and is draped over his right shoulder. His face has a broad forehead, incised eyebrows in a high arch; downcast eyes, with leaf-shaped upper eyelids; a broad, flat nose; a sweet smile and full lips; and a narrow chin. His tall, pointed monk's cap, which completely hides his hair, has flaps that spread to reach his upper arms.
- Subject Matter
- A portrait sculpture of an unidentified Tibetan lama (teacher), who is shown holding the vajra and bell, the two principal ritual implements of Vajrayana Buddhism. He wears the tall cap of a pandit, a scholar.
- Secondary Keywords
- hollow-bodied
- asian
- associated concepts
- bells and sets of bells
- chordophones
- descriptors
- design elements
- directly struck idiophones
- motifs
- objects we use
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by occupation
- people in religion
- people in religion and related occupations
- people in the humanities
- percussion idiophones
- plant-derived motifs
- religions
- religions and religious concepts
- religious (people)
- sound devices
- sound devices by acoustical characteristics
- south asian
- struck idiophones
- styles and periods
- styles and periods by region
- visual works
- visual works by subject type
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Record
- 1995/1.57
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1995-sl-1.57/1995_1_57.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
Cite this Item
View the Help Guide for more information.
- Full citation
-
"Portrait of an unidentified Tibetan lama (teacher); Artist Unknown, Tibet or Nepal." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1995-sl-1.57/1995_1_57.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 23, 2024.
