Tara - Bronze - Nepal - second half 20th century

THE SILENCE OF COMPASSION, OR WHEN METAL PRAYS
This refined sculpture depicts Chenrezig, the bodhisattva of infinite compassion, in his most recognizable and symbolically charged Tibetan iconography. Entirely handmade, the work translates into sculptural form the Buddhist ideal of active compassion: not abstract, but embodied, operative, and vigilant. The meditative posture, the balance of the four arms, and the absolute calm of the face create an image of perfect spiritual concentration, intended not only for aesthetic contemplation but for devotional and ritual use.
MARKET VALUE
Tibetan metal sculptures depicting Chenrezig, handcrafted and of good casting quality with well-defined iconographic details, generally range on the international market between €2,000 and €6,000, with higher peaks for examples of greater age, documented provenance, or superior sculptural quality. The present example falls within the mid-to-upper segment of this range due to its formal balance, clarity of detail, and overall state of preservation.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Hand-cast and hand-finished metal sculpture (likely a copper alloy or bronze) depicting Chenrezig seated in vajraparyankasana on a lotus base. The bodhisattva is represented with four arms: the principal pair joined in prayer at the heart, the others symmetrically arranged at the sides, in accordance with canonical iconography. The face is serene, with half-closed eyes and a subtly suggested smile; the head is adorned with an elaborate crown. The surface shows a consistent dark patina, with minor wear consistent with age and use. As with all ancient or traditional objects with a long material and ritual history, small imperfections may be present and are not always detectable or noted.

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara), bodhisattva of compassion. Tibetan handmade sculpture. Unknown author, according to Himalayan artisanal tradition.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
Chenrezig, known in Sanskrit as Avalokiteshvara, is one of the central figures of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, embodying universal compassion. In Tibet he assumes an absolutely central role and is regarded as the spiritual protector of the land and the very archetype of the bodhisattva. The four-armed iconography symbolizes the four immeasurable qualities: loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. The lotus base evokes purity arising from the imperfect world, while the gesture of the hands at the heart emphasizes the unity of wisdom and action. Objects of this kind were not conceived as mere decorative sculptures, but as supports for meditation, instruments of practice, and vehicles of sacred presence.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE SUBJECT
Chenrezig is not a historical figure but a transcendent bodhisattva, venerated throughout the Buddhist world. In Tibet he is closely associated with the Dalai Lama, who is considered his earthly emanation. His principal invocation is the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, one of the most widely recited in the Buddhist tradition, symbolizing compassion and purification.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Not applicable. Sculptures of Chenrezig were produced within monastic or local artisanal contexts, often commissioned for private or religious use, and circulated within monasteries, domestic shrines, or as votive objects. Their transmission was driven more by ritual practice than by market dynamics, making each example subtly different and inherently unique.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
– Huntington, Susan L., The Art of Ancient India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Weatherhill, 1985
– Rhie, Marylin M., Early Buddhist Art of China and Central Asia, Brill, 1999
– Pal, Pratapaditya, Himalayan Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2003
– Snellgrove, David, Indo-Tibetan Buddhism: Indian Buddhists and Their Tibetan Successors, Shambhala, 1987.