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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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)...

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. prisons and avarice 7...

Early 19th century Tibetan thangka in original mounts depicting Bodhisattva Manjushri seated on a lotus throne holding a flaming sword and a lotus flower with a book on it in his hands, sun and moon among clouds behind him and a pile of offerings in front of the throne. Manjushri’s name means “Gentle Glory”, a flaming sword represents the realization of transcendent wisdom which cuts down ignorance and duality. The scripture supported by the lotus is Prajnaparamita Sutra representing his a...

Early 19th century Tibetan thangka in original mounts depicting Buddha Amitabha seated on a lotus throne holding an alms bowl in his hands, sun and moon among clouds behind him and a pile of offerings in front of the throne. 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, excellent quality painting, some expected wear, overall in great condition for a 200 years old d...

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...

Very rare early 19th century Sino-Tibetan thangka depicting the unusual White manifestation of 6-armed Bhuddist dharmapala Hayagriva. His more common manifestation is Red attesting to his nature as a wrathful form of Avalokiteshvara and thus the archetype of fierce compassion. He is easily recognizable by 3 horse heads in his crown, shown wearing a tiger skin apron and a long necklace of human heads, holding various implements in his hands. Hayagriva”s special ability is to cure diseases, espe...

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...

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. Hayagriva’s special ability is to cure diseases, especially skin diseases even as serious as leprosy, which...

Matching pair of early 19th century altar size Sino-Tibetan thangkas depicting Buddha Shakyamuni and Tsongkhapa, respectively. It is unusual to have a set. Historical Buddha is shown emanating rays of golden light, his right hand in bhumisparsha (earth-touching) mudra, his left hand holding an alms bowl, rich offerings in front of his lotus throne. Tsongkhapa was the great 14th century Buddhist teacher and the founder of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism: he is shown meditating, flowers by ...

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...