Dimensions: Height 12,6 cm Wide 7,5 cm Depth 2,5 cm

Weight: 1132,3 grams

Cast in bronze, the lama is depicted seated in vajrāsana on a double-lotus base with neatly arranged lotus petals. He wears the monastic robe (chos gos), its hems finely incised with scrolling floral and geometric patterns. His hands are held before the chest in dharmachakra mudrā, the gesture of “turning the wheel of the Dharma,” symbolizing the teaching of the Buddhist doctrine.

The face is modeled with naturalism and warmth, characterized by a gentle smile, arched brows, and elongated earlobes. The bald head and lifelike rendering confirm his identity as a historical teacher, part of Tibet’s tradition of realistic portrait sculpture.

The iconography — the dharmachakra mudrā suggests identification as a lineage master of the Kadam or early Gelug school, where scholastic authority and teaching lineages were central. The style is consistent with 15th-century Central Tibetan portrait bronzes of Tsongkhapa’s disciples or early Gelug hierarchs, which were consecrated and enshrined as devotional icons to ensure the teacher’s continued presence.

The hollow base is not sealed, and the surface patina reflects long handling and veneration. The combination of delicate detail, expressive physiognomy, and didactic gesture make this a superb example of Tibetan portraiture in bronze from the 15th century.