@dreamsearchagency: 12th-Century Nepal-Linked Manjushree Statue Sells for Record NPR 2.65 Billion at Christie’s Auction A rare, 12th-century gilt copper sculpture representing Manjushree, the Buddhist Bodhisattva of Wisdom, has been sold for HK137.35 million (approximately US17.5 million or NPR 2.65 Arba) at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong. The 93-centimeter sculpture, crafted in the traditional Newar artistic style, fetched a winning bid of HK115 million, with the final price reaching HK137.35 million following the buyer’s premium. The sale more than doubled the statue’s low estimate and established a new world auction record for a Himalayan gilt bronze sculpture. Held during the Awakening Wisdom: Masterpieces of Buddhist Art sale at Christie’s Asia Pacific headquarters, the overall auction brought in HK$282.98 million, setting the highest total ever recorded globally for the category. According to auction records, the sculpture was documented in Geneva’s George Ortiz Collection by 2002 before moving through private collections in New York and Asia. However, the historic transaction has reignited debates regarding how the ancient Nepalese relic originally left the country, driving renewed calls among cultural activists to protect and repatriate Nepal’s sacred heritage. #manjushree #nepalheritage #christies #artauction #nepalnews

Dream Search Agency

Open In TikTok:

Region: NP

Sunday 01 November 2026 17:30:15 GMT