A FINE AND RARE GILT-COPPER FIGURE OF SYAMATARA Nepal, ca. 13th ct. H. 17 cm Seated in lalitasana on a lotus-base with her her right leg elegantly falling over the base while her foot is supported by a lotus-flower issued by the main base, her right hand lowered in varadamudra, the left raised in the varadamudra additionally holding the stem of the padma-lotus flowering along her left upper arm, wearing sari engraved with a design of scattered flower-heads all around, jewellery set with turquoise beads, her face displaying a serene expression with downcast eyes below arched eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, elongated earlobes, her hair combed in a chignon and showing a section created in a bun falling at her right shoulder and secured with a five-leaf tiara set with turquoise beads, resealed Old European private collection, assembled prior 2007 Although Tara has millions of manifestations, she usually appears in green form. The colour green symbolises that Tara is the female embodiment of the compassionate activity of all the Buddhas of the three times and ten directions. In the hymns of praise to Tara, she is invoked as the saviour - "deliverer", who with inexhaustible courage dispels all fear, conquers the worst demons and grants all that is desired and implored. She removes poisoning and contagious diseases and protects mankind from the eight great and sixteen lesser terrors: Fear of enemies, fear of lions, elephants and poisonous snakes, fear of fire; of robbers, fear of imprisonment, of flood, fear of man-eaters, fear of leprosy, fear of evil sent by Indra's messengers, fear of royal punishment, of metreorites and misfortune. She is clothed in the sixfold ornament of virtues (paramitas), wears the fivefold crown of wisdom, and holds the blue Utpala flower in her left hand. She shows the gesture of protection. Her open right hand indicates her readiness to grant any wish, and her right leg, supported by a separate lotus branch, symbolises her spontaneity to get up at any moment to help the person seeking help. Minor wear to gilding