12th-13th century, Tibet, Vajrasattva, bronze, 23,5 cm, private collection, The Graceful Path to Awakening lot 12, Hollywood Galleries
Out of context a standing male figure with a bodhisattva appearance who holds a vajra sceptre in his right hand and a bell in the other is Vajrapani. Early Tibetan works sometimes depict him holding the stem of a blue lily in his left hand, without a bell on it. We saw one on HAR holding a lily topped with the bell, with a vajra sceptre held horizontally in the palm of his right hand. The above holds it upright like Vajrasattva, who is a buddha when seated but a bodhisattva when standing.
13th-14th century, Tibet, Vajrapani or an emanation of Akshobhya, brass, 44,8 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1105 pl. 2987D, Potala Collection, inventory nº 228 at the Kun bzang rjes ‘gro lha khang, Lhasa (Tibet).
This figure stands on a lotus base atop a pedestal supported by lions and covered with a cloth decorated with an upright vajra sceptre at the front.
14th century, Tibet, Maitreya or Manjushri, gilt copper, 42,5 cm, photo as before, p. 1033 pl. 256D, at the Bri gung mthil (Drigung Thil) monastery (Tibet).