Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas (26)

Very unusual small 1910s Tibetan thangka painted on a buffalo horn plaque with mineral pigments and depicting Bhavachakra - a symbolic representation of samsara - the cycle of repeated birth, mundane existence and dying again without the beginning or the end. The pig, rooster and snake in the hub of the wheel represent “the three poisons” - ignorance, attachment and anger...

Nice small size late 19th / early 20th century Sino-Tibetan bronze vajra - the primary symbol and ritual implement in Tantric Buddhism. It symbolizes the essence of esoteric practices and the perfected state of reality. This vajra has 5 prongs on each end - one at the center, and four at the cardinal directions - symbolizing five cosmic Buddhas. The globe in the middle is considered to be the power center of the implement, on either side of the globe there are stylized lotus petals...

Late 19th - early 20th century Tibetan mala - Buddhist rosary consisting of 108 faceted Peking glass beads and 4 jadeite ones that serve as spacers dividing the prayer beads into groups of 27 each. Traditionally Buddhist rosary of 108 even-sized beads is used for mantra recitation. The thread represents the continuity of the buddhadharma piercing the 108 worldly passions...

Late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) Chinese / Tibetan mala - Buddhist rosary consisting of 108 wooden beads and 4 jadeite ones that serve as spacers dividing the prayer beads into groups of 27 each. Dark dense wood, beautiful green jadeite. Traditionally Buddhist rosary of 108 even-sized beads is used for mantra recitation. The thread represents the continuity of the buddhadharma piercing the 108 worldly passions...

19th century Chinese-Tibetan mala - Buddhist rosary consisting of 108 ivory beads with 4 larger stained red ivory ones that serve as spacers dividing the prayer beads into groups of 27 each. Traditionally Buddhist rosary of 108 even-sized beads is used for mantra recitation. The thread represents the continuity of the buddhadharma piercing the 108 worldly passions. The mantras are recited to accomplish the four karmas or enlightened activities of pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and destroying...

Rare 19th century Sino-Tibetan thangka depicting eight armed Goddess Maha Pratisara seated on a lotus throne and holding various weapons, with Boddhisattva Manjushri depicted above her. Pratisara is one of the Five Pancha Rakshas - a group of five female deities that are the personifications of five early Buddhist sutras...

Late 19th century small Chinese / Tibetan mala - Buddhist rosary consisting of 108 Chinese angel skin coral prayer beads and 4 jadeite ones that serve as spacers dividing the prayer beads into groups of 27 each. Must have been made for a child as the beads are small (about 4 mm in diameter). True white coral with beautiful areas of slight pink. Traditionally Buddhist rosary of 108 even-sized beads is used for mantra recitation...

Early 19th century Sino-Tibetan thangka depicting Agni on his mount - a ram, and holding a pot of water in one hand and rosary beads in the other. Very uncommon image: Agni was initially the God of fire in Hinduism (see the pit of flames that the ram is running on), but was incorporated into Buddhism as one of the twelve Devas (guardian deities found in or around Buddhist shrines) and is considered to be the guardian of the Southeast. Inscribed with 5 characters on the back (see detail)...

Good size early 19th century Tibetan thangka in original mounts depicting 6-armed Bhuddist dharmapala Hayagriva easily recognizable by 3 horse heads in his crown. He is considered to be the terrific form of Avalokiteshvara and thus the archetype of fierce compassion. Hayagriva is shown wearing a tiger skin apron and a long necklace of human heads, holding various implements in his hands...

Early 18th to early 19th century Tibetan thangka in original mounts depicting Green Tara with the image of Buddha Amitabha above her and her 21 forms around her. She is the miraculous savior rescuing all beings from suffering, particularly from the “eight calamities” of both mundane and spiritual nature: 1. lions and pride 2. wild elephants and delusion 3. forest fires and hatred 4. snakes and envy 5. robbers and fanatical views 6...

Early 19th century Tibetan / Mongolian thangka depicting Tserendug - the White Old Man - Lord of the earth and water, protector of all living things. Rare icon, Tserendug as the patron of the plant and animal world is one of the ancient chthonic deities incorporated into Buddhist iconography and is associated with Buddha Amitayus. He is shown seated on a lotus throne wearing a white robe and holding a staff with a dragon's head and a scroll, distant mountains, sun and moon among clouds behind hi...

Early 19th century Sino-Tibetan thangka depicting 6-armed Bhuddist dharmapala Hayagriva easily recognizable by 3 horse heads in his crown. He is considered to be the wrathful form of Avalokiteshvara and thus the archetype of fierce compassion. He is wearing a tiger skin apron and a long necklace of human heads, holding various implements in his hands and trampling on numerous snakes. Beautifully painted with natural mineral pigments on cotton, excellent quality painting - see the horses’ heads...

Early 19th century Tibetan thangka depicting historical Buddha Shakyamuni emanating rays of golden light, his right hand in bhumisparsha (earth-touching) mudra, his left hand holding an alms bowl. Central figure is surrounded by 18 of Buddha’s original disciples (2 of them are standing holding kakhara - long staff with rattle to scare off insects, and thus prevent the carrier from stepping on them) with additional figures of Boddhidharma and Budai. Right before the Buddha’s lotus throne ther...

Very rare late 18th - early 19th century framed Tibetan thangka depicting arhat Kanaka Bharadvaja - one of the 16 original disciples of the historical Buddha - seated on a lotus dais with his hands in dhyanamudra - mudra of concentration. He is surrounded by 7 other original arhat with their characteristic hand gestures and attributes (anticlockwise from lower left): Anjita, Shribhadra, Pindola, Rahula, Kalika, Nagasena and Abheda. Lower register depicts two of the Four Heavenly Kings who also a...

18th to early 19th century Tibetan thangka in original mounts depicting six-armed Mahakala standing on a lotus base trampling on elephant headed Vigneshwara (Lord of Obstacles). Mahakala is an emanation of Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara and the leader of the dharmapalas (Defenders of the Buddhist Law), his name means “beyond time/death”, and he represents the flow of time. This is 6-armed form of Mahakala with each hand holding a different implement, the crown is adorned with 5 skulls and a s...

Early 19th century Tibetan / Mongolian thangka in original mounts depicting Tserendug - the White Old Man - Lord of the earth and water, protector of all living things. Rare icon, Tserendug as the patron of the plant and animal world is one of the ancient chthonic deities incorporated into Buddhist iconography and is associated with Buddha Amitayus. He is shown seated on a throne wearing a white robe and holding a rosary and a scroll in his hands, his two attendants behind him hold a staff with ...

Early 19th century Tibetan thangka depicting Buddha Amitabha surrounded by his eight manifestations. Amitabha is the Buddha of Infinite Light and presides over Sukhavati (the Western Paradise). Beautifully painted with natural mineral pigments on cotton, wonderful tranquil face, original silk mounts, original silk gauze cloth protecting the painting from light and wear (can be seen bunched up for the purpose of photography on top of the mounts on Enlargement 2). Excellent quality painting, some ...

19th (can be as early as 18th) century Tibetan banded agate bead of elongated seed shape. Beautiful stone with wonderful contrasting layers, excellent patina from wear, very pleasant to hold. Length 1.63 inches.