u/vajrasattvalover

In February I picked up the Arya manjushri namasangati weaponless 12 armed , 18cm sculpture. I had it Xrf tested 4x results was no grade match found. So it is a pre industrial ( Not German silver /alpacca ) It is a Tibetan / Nepalese lost wax sculpture made of a rare natural ore called paktong. This combined with being ritually used for generations, carbonised rice husk and chaff in the core matrix confirm newari/ Nepali craftsmenship.

If it were made of modern ( 1825 ish ) German silver/alpacca the Xrf would have matched a grade.

That means it is an 18th century Tibeta/Nepali Lost wax, ex rare , Namasangati sculpture.

The sister sculpture resides in the national museum of Nepal ( see photo )

The results match 18th century Chinese Paktong utilised by Tibetan and Nepali master craftsmen.

I picked this up in february 2026.

It turned out to be an extremely rare Nepali/Tibetan 12 armed weaponless Arya Manjushri Namasangati. After some research I suspected it was an original dating from the 18th century as I had found another identical sculpture was on display in the National museum of Nepal dated 18th century.

So I had it Xrf tested and the results included Zinc , nickel , copper, and trace Iron. Many collectors began saying its a modern replica due to nickel.

I dug deeper and found a cupro nickel alloy was available from China in Tibet and smuggled to Nepal called " Paktong "

I reseached more and found it's metalurgical composition fits my sculptures Xrf test precisely with all 4 test spots returning a no grade match result. That rules out German silver/Alpacca .

If it was post 1825 ish ( modern ) the Xrf would have found a grade match like 7521 German silver / nickel silver , Alpacca as western foundrys produced pure nickel, Pure zinc , pure copper and it would contain trace arsenic

All that coupled with clear evidence of being a lost wax, carbonised rice husk , and chaff still within its core matrix, ritually eroded thumbs. 18cms tall also matches the Museums sculpture. Lost wax ,chaff, ritual use, and being made of Chinese 18th cent Paktong means it is the real deal and the only one xrf tested validating its age and composition and only 2 are known to exist - Enjoy..

I picked this up maybe 2 years ago locally. So far all I have found out about it is its a Lotus buddha, cast lead, and from Burma. Im guessing its 19th century but it is possible to be 18th century . I have not been able to locate another one or even any reference to another.

Another Bodhisattva I picked up locally online in Serbia.

Classic Newari style lost wax bronze Bodhisattva.

Dating is 18th century.

Kathmandu valley in Nepal.

You can still see the artisans fingerprints cast into the bronze from the wax model he made.

I have only seen one other on a major buddha dealers website.

Bagan period Buddhist votive tablet 11th century

I purchased this from seller locally online who described it as a Tsa Tsa . I had no idea if it was or wasnt I just liked it as he had sold me several other pieces he picked up via home clearances over the years.

But when I researched it I got a surprise as it is the best preserved and undamaged votive tablet of its type/ kind ever found and it was 1000 years old.

Pagan/ Burma

Bagan period 11th century

My first Buddhist sculpture purchased from a friends estate when he died very suddenly at 23 years old, he had just inherited it from his parents estate weeks earlier in 1993...been in my care ever since.

It still contains the original 4 mantra scrolls inside.

Only 2 known to exist.

I bought this one as it had an ectra dedication halo inscribed in Newari/ranjana and these are often lost and are rare.

One of my favourites found in a Serbian market online sales page.

Newari lost wax sculpture.