16th century
Gilt repoussé copper with semi-precious stones
63 cm
Technique and Newar tradition
The repoussé technique, executed with remarkable precision, creates a deeply modelled surface of great plasticity and clarity, giving the figure a solemn and radiant presence.
The mercury gilding enhances the sacred luminosity of the surface, while the inlaid semi-precious stones emphasize the ritual value of the image.
Iconography: Dharmachakra Mudra
The Bodhisattva is depicted in the Dharmachakra mudra, the gesture of “turning the Wheel of the Dharma”.
This gesture refers to the first sermon of the Buddha at Sarnath and symbolizes the transmission and continuity of Buddhist teachings.
Within the Mahayana tradition, it represents the universal dissemination of wisdom and compassion.
Form, style, and spiritual function
The balanced composition and formal symmetry reflect the aesthetic principles of Nepalese sculpture during the Malla period.
Sacred images of this type were conceived as visible manifestations of cosmic order and spiritual presence.
The relatively large scale (63 cm) suggests a public devotional function, likely within a temple or an important ritual setting.
Material, technique, and symbolism
The repoussé technique allows the sculptor to shape thin sheets of metal into complex volumes, combining structural lightness with visual richness.
The presence of semi-precious stones is not merely decorative, but reinforces the sacred efficacy of the image within ritual practice.
Context and collecting
This work represents an outstanding example of 16th-century Nepalese repoussé sculpture, where technical virtuosity and religious meaning converge.
It belongs to the broader tradition of Himalayan Buddhist art, alongside Tibetan bronzes and Gandharan sculptures, contributing to the understanding of Buddhist visual culture across Asia.
