Himalayan White Tara – Western Nepal / West Tibet, 17th–18th Century (32 cm)
Himalayan White Tara from Western Nepal / West Tibet, dated to the late 17th–18th century. Standing 32 cm high and cast in solid bronze by the lost-wax technique, the sculpture preserves subtle remains of original 24 k mercury-amalgam gilding beneath its old wax and patina layers. The interior shows traditional ritual filling and a coarse sand-cast structure typical for West-Himalayan workshops. A serene and authentic representation of Tara from the Himalayan west.
Valuation Report
Himalayan White Tara bronze from the Western Himalayan region (Western Nepal / West Tibet), dated to the late 17th–18th century. Lost-wax cast with thin-walled construction and historic patina.
Material and technique: solid bronze with remains of original 24 kt gold leaf, applied by traditional mercury-amalgam fire gilding. Surface shows historic wax, soot and natural corrosion consistent with long-term ritual use.
Dimensions: height 32 cm; width 19.5 cm; weight approx. 1.6 kg.
Period and region: Western Himalayan region (Western Nepal / West Tibet), late 17th–18th century.
Condition: original gilding remnants, intact historic patina, undisturbed sand-cast interior and old ritual filling. No modern coatings, artificial patina, restoration or re-gilding observed.
Examination: assessed with museum-grade analytical methods, including microscopy, UV fluorescence, macro photography and detailed interior inspection.
1stbuddha retail valuation (guidance): €6 500 – €9 500.
Himalayan White Tara – Western Nepal / West Tibet, 17th–18th Century (32 cm)
Description
This Himalayan White Tara belongs to the Western Nepal–West Tibet tradition, a region known for its refined depictions of peaceful female deities with soft facial modelling, high crowns, and understated ornamentation. Measuring 32 cm in height and weighing approximately 1.6 kg, the piece corresponds closely to the thin-walled bronze castings produced in the late 17th to early 18th century across the Dolpo–Mustang–Zanskar cultural zone.
The surface shows an old, naturally developed layer of wax and soot, accumulated through long-term handling and ritual use. Beneath this organic patina, microscopy and UV examination reveal clear remains of original 24 k gold leaf applied by traditional mercury-amalgam fire-gilding. The thin, island-like gold patches and characteristic break patterns match early Himalayan gilding techniques rather than any modern plating.
Inside, the sculpture retains a coarse, granular sand-cast interior with brown-red inclusions and traces of traditional ritual filling—features typical of early Himalayan bronzes. No modern coatings, fillers, or repair interventions are present.
The iconography is consistent with White Tara in a calm seated pose: a serene face, high crown with central element, smooth modelling of the features, and jewellery forms characteristic of Western Nepal and West Tibet. The proportions and stylistic handling align with late-17th- to early-18th-century workshops of the western Himalayan region.
An authentic Himalayan bronze with historic surface layers, intact internal structure, and preserved remnants of original fire-gilding.
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Himalayan White Tara – Western Nepal / West Tibet, 17th–18th Century (32 cm)
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