ABS 281
Code: ABS 281
Country: Tibet
Style:
Date: 1500 - 1600
Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 4.9 x 5 x 3.8
Materials: Silver
Unidentified Karmapa hierarch
The master is sitting on a lotus with his legs crossed, covered by a thick cloak. His right hand rests on his knee while his left hand supports a book in the gesture of contemplation. He wears the triple monastic garment. His hat bears a cross-shaped double vajra on the front, cloud motifs on the sides and the sun and moon on the top. All these elements indicate the typical hat of the Karmapa hierarchs. Due to the lack of colour, however, it is not possible to determine whether it is a black hat like that of the Karmapas or a red one like that of their disciples, the Shamarpas. These two lineages have in fact identical hats, differing only in colour. In the collection there is an identified portrait of the 8th Karmapa in an almost identical posture (ABS 163).
The master is sitting on a lotus with his legs crossed, covered by a thick cloak. His right hand rests on his knee while his left hand supports a book in the gesture of contemplation. He wears the triple monastic garment. His hat bears a cross-shaped double vajra on the front, cloud motifs on the sides and the sun and moon on the top. All these elements indicate the typical hat of the Karmapa hierarchs. Due to the lack of colour, however, it is not possible to determine whether it is a black hat like that of the Karmapas or a red one like that of their disciples, the Shamarpas. These two lineages have in fact identical hats, differing only in colour. In the collection there is an identified portrait of the 8th Karmapa in an almost identical posture (ABS 163).