Religious Figure / Vaisravana

A stout wooden figure of Vaisravana, Guardian of the North. He sits in the royal ease pose (end of toe on folded leg missing) and is dressed in full military armour, including with a helmet with protective scaled sides, a suit of scale armour, and an elaborate surcoat that incorporates kirtimukha faces at the shoulders. The face still has traces of pigment and gold and several layers are visible. The left hand is raised as if it once held a mongoose aloft and the right hand's finger and thumb form a loop suggesting he once held a Buddhist banner. Both wrists are tied with a yellow cotton twine that has been secured with a wax seal. The base is solid and carved with a double dorje.