The Buddhist deity Vajradhara

This sculpture combines the ancient Chinese tradition of lacquered wood sculpture with Tibetan symbolism and decorative approaches. The Manchu emperors of the Qing dynasty maintained close relations with the leading religious families in Tibet, and Tibetan Buddhism was practiced by many at the Qing court. The Qianlong emperor had a particularly strong attachment to Tibetan Buddhism, and many spectacular works of art were commissioned by the imperial family for use in Tibetan Buddhist temples in Beijing and other centers in northern China during his reign. These works were created under the supervision of Tibetan monks and in a style that is definitely Tibetan; however, many of these sculptures, including this example, were produced at the Qing imperial workshops and most likely by Chinese artisans.