Gilt bronze statue of "Vajrabhairava in union with his consort", Qing Dynasty

Gilt bronze sculpture in the round depicting Yamantaka Vajrabhairava, the wrathful manifestation of the bodhisattva Manjushri, embracing his consort Vajravetali. The male figure features multiple heads, with a ferocious expression and bulging eyes, crowned with a diadem of skulls, 10 arms arranged in a fan bearing various tantric attributes (vajras, knives, skulls, and other symbols), and two legs, in a dancing posture, crushing human figures, symbolizing victory over ego and ignorance. The consort is shown naked, cast in an attitude of surrender and fusion, surrounding the main figure with her arms and legs. Both figures rest on a base of lotus petals, characteristic of Tibetan tantric art. Both figures are depicted seminude, their bodies covered in fine beaded jewelry such as belts, pendants, bracelets, and armlets. The style, materials, and technique suggest high-quality production influenced by Tibetan models.

Size: 23.5 x 20 cm

Weight: 2000 g