Vajrayana Buddhist gilt bronze statue of Garuda, mythological bird, on a double-layered black stone pedestal. On lower rim, reliefs of ribbons, on higher one spherical reliefs. Legs outspread and bent to the sides at the round, bulging knees. Feet with three talons on semi-spherical gilt bronze supports on the pedestal. Body and arms human. Large round belly and prominent chest with two elaborate necklaces with inlaid light and dark blue semi-precious stones; also arm bands and bracelets. Underneath belly a belt tied with a bow and a skirt ending above knees with incised patterns on the hem. Wings emerging from back, incised to simulate feathers. Arms raised vertically, holding a writhing serpent, held also by the downward arching beak, on top of which a bulging human nose. Bulging eyes, third on forehead, painted large black eyebrows. Four-pronged crown, inlaid dark semi-precious stones. Two horns emerge from forehead in front of crown, from back of head rises a mass of copper-coloured hair, carved as flames.
