ticketsMember | Make a donation

Thousand-Armed Chenresi, a Cosmic Form of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

1430
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
With eleven heads and “one thousand” arms, Avalokiteshvara helps countless disciples realize their false perceptions and escape the cycle of rebirth. The lotus base is inscribed “made by the hands of Sonam Gyaltsen,” a departure from the typical anonymity of Tibetan production. This artist or head of a workshop must have held great status based on the sculpture’s size and detailed execution. The image relates to the regional style at Gyantse, a monastic complex controlled by the royal donors also mentioned in the inscription.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Thousand-Armed Chenresi, a Cosmic Form of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
  • Artist: Sonam Gyaltsen (Tibetan, active 15th century)
  • Date: 1430
  • Culture: Central Tibet, Shigatse
  • Medium: Gilt copper alloy
  • Dimensions: H. 26 1/8 in. (66.4 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Lent by the Robert H. Blumenfield Collection
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art