Image sourced from Christies
Now in 2026, it is making headlines once again, selling for approximately ₹166 crore at auction and setting a record for Himalayan gilt-bronze art. The complex 3 bend pose, called tribhanga, creates an impression of movement, rendering the figure less an inanimate object and more a living form, moving like poetry in front of us. These craftsmen are revered as some of the best metalworkers of the Buddhist world from the 9-12th centuries. The sculpture belonged to the George Ortiz Collection in Geneva by 2002, before passing through an important private collection in New York and the Asian art dealership Carlton Rochell Asian Art in 2017, according to Christie’s. It was also exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2003 and at the Zhiguan Museum of Fine Art in Beijing in 2018, bringing the centuries-old work before international audiences. On 30 October 2026, the sculpture went under the hammer at Christie’s Hong Kong as part of Awakening Wisdom: Masterpieces of Buddhist Art from a Private Asian Collection. It sold for HK$137.35 million, approximately Rs 166 crore, setting a world auction record for a Himalayan gilt-bronze sculpture. It was produced nearly 9 centuries ago, an era when Nepalese artists contributed to the visual vocabulary of Buddhist art in Tibet and China.
From every curve to every carving, such is the intricacy of this 12th-century Manjushri sculpture from Nepal. Standing nearly a metre tall, this gilded copper figure of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom, is a remarkable example of the artistic excellence of the Kathmandu Valley. Created by Newar artisans at a time when Nepal was emerging as one of the most important centres of Buddhist art, the sculpture has travelled across continents and collections over the centuries. But what makes this sculpture worth such an extraordinary sum is not just its age, size or the gold that covers its surface. It is a rare surviving example of a sculptural tradition that helped shape Buddhist art across the Himalayas and beyond. The 93cm sculpture depicts Manjushri, a bodhisattva associated with wisdom and enlightenment in Buddhist tradition. He is identified by the Prajnaparamita Sutra, the Buddhist scripture representing transcendent wisdom, placed upon a flowering lotus at his shoulder. The figure is dressed in elaborate jewellery, including necklaces, armlets, bracelets and a sacred thread, all carefully detailed against the smooth, gilded copper surface. Look closely at the sculpture’s remarkable proportions: the elongated body, slender waist, gently curved hips and flowing silhouette give it an almost weightless appearance, despite its imposing size. Its gilt surface used to shimmer in the flickering light of temple lamps, giving the bodhisattva an almost ethereal quality. These characteristics are the hallmark of the Newar school of sculpture, a tradition that was built by the Newar artisans of the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. They were also adept at the subtle art of mercury gilding, which gave the sculptures their brilliant golden finish. What set Newar craftsmanship apart, however, was its ability to fuse the classical ideals of Indian art with a distinctly Nepalese sense of proportion, ornamentation and form. Their sculptures often showed Buddhist deities as young princely figures, adorned with elaborate jewellery but with a clear spiritual presence. Of course, the Manjushri showcases their craftsmanship beautifully. The importance of Newar craftsmanship is not just limited to Nepal. Geographically positioned between the Buddhist centres of northern India and Tibet, the Kathmandu Valley became an important centre for preserving and developing Buddhist artistic traditions. Between the 10th and 12th centuries, Tibet experienced a renewed expansion of Buddhist institutions, a period known as the Later Diffusion of Buddhism. The construction and restoration of monasteries created a growing demand for sacred sculptures, and Nepalese artisans were particularly well placed to fulfil it. Their ability to produce monumental gilt-copper figures made their work highly sought after by Tibetan patrons. But this exchange was not just about completed sculptures moving across the Himalayas. Newar craftsmen also went to Tibet, teaching local artists their skills in metal casting, gilding and sculptural proportions. These techniques were eventually incorporated into Tibetan art, creating a shared visual language strongly influenced by Nepalese aesthetics. The influence eventually reached the imperial courts of China. Anige, a celebrated Nepalese artist, in fact, worked under the patronage of the Yuan dynasty in the 13th century. He and the artists associated with him helped establish a Himalayan-inspired style of Buddhist art at the Mongol court. Its influence continued through the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, particularly in the proportions, jewellery and refined modelling of sculptures made for Tibetan Buddhist patrons. The Manjushri’s importance is also reflected in the relatively small number of comparable sculptures that have survived. Some Nepalese-style monumental bodhisattvas remain in important Tibetan religious institutions, including Sera Monastery, the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Shalu Monastery. Others are preserved in international museums, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Norton Simon Museum of Art in California. Sculptures of this age and scale are particularly rare. few retain the combination of monumental proportions, intricate detailing and exceptional craftsmanship seen in this Manjushri While smaller Nepalese gilt-copper figures can be found in museum collections and monastery treasuries. Its own history is equally interesting. It later entered a private Asian collection. The Manjushri is a reminder of the artistic legacy of the Kathmandu Valley beyond its extraordinary auction price. Much more than an expensive antiquity, its survival, remarkable craftsmanship and journey through international collections make it much more than an expensive antiquity. It is a piece of Nepal’s artistic history, one that continues to illuminate the influence of Newar craftsmen on the wider Buddhist world. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.