THE YELLOW JAMBHALA AS COMPANION OF VAISHRAVANA

Description:

Tibet, 18th c.
H. 10 (13) cm
Vaishravana is accompanied in some depictions by his ten brothers or sons. They ride on horses, wear armour and helmets on their heads. The sculpture of Jambhala presented here, one of Vaishravana's companions, shows a wrathful face, and carries a dried skull in front of his wrathfully ruffled hair. Since Vaishravana and his attendants are deities of wealth, Jambhala holds a jewel in his right hand, raised threateningly, between his fingers. On his left hand, also raised, sits a "jewelled rat", a mongoose. His body is dressed in a flowing silk cloak and a silk undergarment. The feet are in Mongolian riding boots. The horse is traditionally saddled and bridled, with a tiger skin under the saddle.
German private collection, collected before 2007 - Perspex base, slightly chipped, wear