A LARGE GILT COPPER AND BRONZE FIGURE OF MAHAKALA, Tibet, 18th / 19th century

Depicting Mahakala, one of the eight Dharmapala defenders of Tibetan Buddhism, with six arms, wearing a precious bodhisattva robe with the coils of a snake surrounding, on the lower bodice, a wheel with eight rays, symbol of the eight principles that lead to perfection; the sides are wrapped by the skin of a tiger whose head is placed in the back of the statue where the original polychromy is preserved; on the forehead has the third eye that overcomes the illusion of what is only appearance. From the head rise the flames that burn the sin; body and head are thrown by a very thick copper plate, the hands and feet in lost wax cast bronze, the jewels and the bodice that covers the mighty chest are gilded with mercury.

大型局部镀金铜像，西藏，十八/十九世纪