
Silver
This 15th century sculpture is of Buton Rinchen Drub, a renowned Buddhist scholar in Tibet. He was the founder of the Shalu school and also the 11th abbot of the Shalu Monastery. The image was cast in silver but the head has been gilded. The figure sits on a lotus throne in full lotus position and holds two objects that are his attributes, twin lotuses. A bell with a vajra handle is supported by one of the lotuses that emerges from beneath the vase held in the figure’s left hand. A monastic hood is worn by the figure with long ear-flaps that accentuates the lean face.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture N-Sr, page 1048.