Historic Sir Basil Gould Collection Raises Nearly £1 Million at Bonhams Auction, with Iconic Portrait of the 14th Dalai Lama Fetching Top Price

London | 6 June 2025 | GATPM

The much-anticipated auction of the Sir Basil Gould Collection of Arts at Bonhams New Bond Street on 5 June 2025 has garnered extraordinary international attention, realising nearly £1 million (£951,770) and casting a renewed spotlight on Tibet’s rich cultural heritage and Britain’s historic ties with an independent Tibet. Bidders from across the globe – notably from the Far East, Europe, and the United States – competed for this rare and profound collection of artwork, manuscripts, and personal archives relating to early 20th-century Tibet.

Topping the 49-lot auction was The Dalai Lama on the Throne on 22 February 1940, an evocative portrait by renowned Indian artist Kanwal Krishna, which achieved £152,800 (including premium). The painting captures the young 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, enthroned in Lhasa at the age of four – a climactic moment in Tibetan history, vividly observed by Sir Basil Gould, Britain’s Political Officer for Sikkim, Bhutan, and Tibet.

A further highlight was the complete 40-piece set of Kanwal Krishna’s original watercolours, painted during the 1939–40 British Mission to Lhasa. These unique works, documenting the ceremonial and spiritual intricacies of the Dalai Lama’s recognition and enthronement, sold for an impressive £457,600.

Giles Peppiatt, Bonhams Group Head of Pictures, remarked:

“The Gould Collection has been one of the most extraordinary and profoundly important historical sales I have ever been involved with. The centrepiece, Krishna Kanwal’s oil work of the Dalai Lama on the throne, documents the enthronement – at the age of four – by an artist who was on the spot. It also conveys the sense of spiritual wisdom emanating from this small boy, something that was much remarked upon by those who met him. We are delighted with the result for the watercolours depicting the ceremonies, dignitaries, and enthronement, which are as beautiful as they are significant.”

Another notable lot was the rare Report on the Discovery, Recognition and Installation of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama in its Tibetan woodblock-printed edition, which fetched £17,920. Approved by the Tibetan government and distributed to senior officials in 1941, this document affirms the Tibetan-led recognition of the Dalai Lama – free from any Chinese interference – countering modern revisionist narratives promoted by the Chinese Communist Party.

Britain’s Role in Documenting an Independent Tibet

Sir Basil Gould’s extensive involvement in Tibetan affairs is further underscored by the sale of his personal archive, including over 1,500 photographs from his 1936–1937 Mission to Lhasa and rare cine film later screened for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. These archives not only preserve visual records of pre-occupation Tibet but also reaffirm Britain’s diplomatic engagement with a sovereign and independent Tibetan state.

GATPM’s Advocacy Behind the Scenes

Among the originally scheduled auction items were two historic letters from 1947, addressed to Sir Basil Gould from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Regent. These letters sought British assistance for the official Tibetan Trade Delegation to the United Kingdom, United States, and India – clear and compelling evidence of Tibet’s sovereign international status prior to Communist China’s occupation.

In a respectful and quiet act of diplomacy, Tsering Passang – son of a Tibetan resistance fighter and Founder-Chair of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) – successfully appealed to the Gould family and Bonhams to withhold these sensitive documents from public sale.

“This deeply meaningful outcome shows what is possible through trust, discretion, and shared respect for historical truth,” said Passang. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Gould family and Bonhams for recognising that these are not merely collectables, but sacred pieces of Tibet’s sovereign history. Their decision to withdraw the letters ensures they are preserved with the dignity and care they deserve – and not lost to private hands that may misuse or obscure their significance. In the Tibetan struggle, preserving our historical voice is an act of justice, remembrance, and cultural survival.”

“This deeply meaningful outcome shows what is possible through trust, discretion, and shared respect for historical truth. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Gould family and Bonhams for recognising that these are not merely collectables, but sacred pieces of Tibet’s sovereign history. Their decision to withdraw the letters ensures they are preserved with the dignity and care they deserve – and not lost to private hands that may misuse or obscure their significance. In the Tibetan struggle, preserving our historical voice is an act of justice, remembrance, and cultural survival.”

Tsering Passang, Founder & Chair, Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities

A Moment of Cultural and Historical Reckoning

As the Tibetan diaspora continues its long struggle for recognition, justice, and freedom, the success of this auction underscores the enduring value of Tibet’s cultural and spiritual legacy. It is also a powerful reminder of the longstanding connection between Tibet and Britain – one rooted in mutual respect, diplomatic cooperation, and shared historical memory.

The auction has ignited renewed scholarly and diplomatic interest in Sir Basil Gould’s legacy, reaffirming his role as a trusted witness and friend of Tibet. For Tibetans and their allies, the proper curation and ethical handling of such archival treasures are more than matters of financial worth – they are vital acts of truth-telling and cultural affirmation.