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

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)...

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...

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...

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.

18th century Tibetan thangka in original mounts depicting Begtse standing on a lotus throne trampling on the corpses of horses and humans, brandishing a sword, supporting a lance and a bow and devouring a human heart. Rather rare icon, Beg-tse (also called Jamsaran) is a dharmapala (the Defender of the Buddhist Law) and the Lord of War, in origin a pre-Buddhist war god of the Mongols - his name means “hidden coat of mail”...

18th century Tibetan thangka depicting Ekadasamukha - Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara manifesting its form with 11 faces. Boddhisattva is holding various implements in his 6 hands, there is Tsongkhapa surrounded by 2 lamas depicted above him and 3 deities (White Tara, Mahakala and Green Tara) below. Beautifully painted with natural mineral pigments on cotton, original mounts lost its silk front but retained cotton backing, the thangka can be displayed hanging...

Good size late 18th to early 19th century Tibetan thangka depicting Buddha Amitabha presiding over Sukhavati, the Western paradise. Amitabha - the Buddha of Infinite Light - sits in his palace surrounded by pious men dwelling in the land of bliss. There are flying Buddhist angels above the palace, and before it there is a lake in which devotees are reborn on lotus flowers with two rowing boats carrying believers to the Amitabha’s paradise...

18th century or earlier Tibetan carnelian agate dzi bead with geometric designs of lines and dots. Dzi beads are believed to hold magical properties and are worn as amulets protecting from demons, bringing prosperity, overcoming negative forces, clearing obstacles, increasing merits & longevity. Beautiful stone with typical agate layer lines and wonderful light colored etching. Excellent patina with great feel of age, expected small nicks, chips and other signs of long life...