18TH CENTURY QING DYNASTY CHINESE TIBETAN GILT BRONZE SEATED FIGURE OF TEACHER LAMA TSONGKHAPA Lord Tsongkapa, Lobzang Dragpa (1357-1419): founder of the Gelugpa School, emanating from the heart of the bodhisattva Maitreya. The figure is seated on a rectangular pedestal base with legs crossed in Dhyasana, one hand held in vitarka mudra and the other lowered to the waist level with the palm turned uppermost, the face with eyes downcast providing a benevolent expression. In the appearance of a monastic scholar with a pandita hat, the characteristic pointed hat with long flaps covering the ears, falling onto each side of the shoulder, dressed in a voluminous patchwork robes of a fully ordained monk, wrapped across one shoulder partially covering the inner-robe tied at the waist. He performs with both hands the mudra of Dharma teaching at the heart while holding the stems of two lotus flowers blossoming at both ears supporting on the right a wisdom sword and at the left a book (One flower blossom to the left side is MISSING). With the two legs folded in vajra posture he sits upon a moon disc and pink lotus seat. Dimensions: 7-1/2 H