A red kasaya with a yellow fitted vest, an earthy robe traped over his shoulders; looking straight, sitting cross-leged, the palm facing up–this Kagyu Lama appears in a thangka portrait of an Abbot from Central Tibel, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; though his exact identity is still a mystery to us nowadays (see the picture above).

Coincidentally, a 14th century copper-inlaid bronze figure presented in the forthcoming Christie's New York sale on Himalayan Art in March gives a similar depiction of the Kagyu Lama, with just little differences of the hairstyle and facial features like the ears. The affinity seems predestinated.

Apart from the Tibetan artwork, those from Mongolia and Nepal are also offered in the sale.

Sale Details

Auction House: Christie's New York
Sale: Himalayan, Indian and South East Asian Art
Sale No.: 14483
No. of Lot: 54
Viewing:
2017/3/10-11  10am-5pm
2017/3/12  1pm-5pm
2017/3/14  10am-12pm
Sale Time: 2017/3/15  2pm (updated due to inclement weather)

Top Lots

A LARGE COPPER-INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF A KAGYU LAMA, TIBET, 14TH CENTURY

Lot No.:217
Estimate: US$500,000-700,000

A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA AMITABHA, MONGOLIA, ZANABAZAR SCHOOL, 17TH/18TH CENTURY

Lot No.: 229
Estimate: US$200,000-300,000

A BRONZE FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA, MONGOLIA, ZANABAZAR SCHOOL, 17TH CENTURY

Lot No.: 231
Estimate: US$100,000-150,000