A gilded bronze Medicine Buddha in the Zanabazar style: the golden age of Mongolian Buddhist sculpture

Medicine Buddha in gilt bronze in the style of Zanabazar, Mongolia, 17th–18th century. Himalayan Buddhist sculpture authenticated by Gauchet Art Asiatique, presented in the Asian Art sale at Cannes Enchères on June 24, 2026.

Mongolian Buddhist bronzes inspired by the Zanabazar school are among the most refined productions of all Himalayan art. Combining Vajrayana spirituality, formal perfection, and technical virtuosity, these sculptures fascinate major private collectors and international museums alike.

The sculpture presented here represents the Medicine Buddha ( Bhaiṣajyaguru ), a deity associated with physical and spiritual healing in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Seated in vajrasana on a lotus-shaped base with a double row of petals, the Buddha holds a bowl of medicine in his left hand while his right hand touches the earth in the gesture of bhūmisparśa mudrā .

The serene features of the face, the broad shoulders, the supple contours of the torso, and the delicate decorative engravings on the monastic robe directly evoke the great Mongolian bronzes produced in the Zanabazar tradition during the 17th and 18th centuries. The quality of the deeply sculpted, lotus-shaped base also contributes to this monumental and elegant aesthetic that characterizes the finest Mongolian workshops of the Buddhist tradition.

Zanabazar, founding master of Mongolian Buddhist art

Portrait of Zanabazar (1635–1723), founder of Mongolian Buddhist sculpture and first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu incarnation, depicted on an ancient Tibetan thangka. A major figure of Himalayan Buddhist art and Vajrayāna tradition in Mongolia.

Öndör Gegeen Zanabazar (1635–1723), considered the greatest artist in Mongolian history, was a spiritual leader, scholar, diplomat, and sculptor of genius. A descendant of Genghis Khan and recognized as the first reincarnation of Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, he played a central role in the establishment of Gelugpa Buddhism in Mongolia.

After several trips to Tibet, where he studied, in particular, the artistic traditions of Nepalese Newar influence, Zanabazar developed a distinctly Mongolian sculptural style, immediately recognizable by:

serene and idealized faces;

particularly harmonious proportions;

fluid and elegant draping;

exquisitely finely chiseled details;

high-quality fire gilding;

highly elaborate lotus-shaped bases.

His workshops, active mainly around the monastery of Tövkhön and the monastic capital of Ikh Khüree (future Ulaanbaatar), produced sculptures intended for monasteries, aristocratic shrines and private altars of great Mongol families.

Today, works attributed to Zanabazar or his circle are preserved in major international institutions, including:

the Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum in Ulaanbaatar;

the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art;

the Metropolitan Museum of Art;

the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

Mongolian bronzes on the art market

For the past twenty years or so, Mongolian Buddhist sculptures have experienced a major resurgence of interest on the international Asian art market. The rarity of ancient works, the exceptional quality of the castings, and the historical importance of the Zanabazar school have greatly contributed to this growth.

Prices vary considerably depending on the period, quality of execution, origin, and degree of attribution:

a few thousand euros for late 19th century productions;

€20,000 to €80,000 for beautiful, high-quality antique bronzes;

several hundred thousand euros for works attributed directly to the historic workshop of Zanabazar.

Western collectors specializing in Himalayan art, as well as several Asian and American institutions, actively participate in this particularly selective market.

A work presented at public auction

This sculpture will be presented with Cannes Enchères as part of the specialized Asian Art sale on June 24, 2026, with the expertise of Gauchet Art Asiatique.

The work will be offered with an estimate of 8,000 / 12,000 euros .

This presentation is part of the specialized sales organized on the French Riviera during Asian week in June 2026, bringing together several auction houses and experts around a selection of major works of Asian, Himalayan and Buddhist art.