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Description

A FINE THANGKA OF THE SEVENTEEN-DEITY TARA MANDALA, CENTRAL TIBET, C. 1535-1550

A FINE THANGKA OF THE SEVENTEEN-DEITY TARA MANDALA, CENTRAL TIBET, C. 1535-1550 Distemper and gold on cloth. Mounted as a hanging scroll on a fine Chinese silk brocade frame dating from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The central palace houses the goddess Green Tara in union with the Cosmic Buddha Amoghasiddhi, seated above a white moon disk and lotus plinth. They are accompanied by a retinue of seventeen other Taras bearing the colors of the Five Buddha Families. The upper and lower registers with bodhisattvas, Lamas, and wrathful protectors. Superbly painted with meticulous attention to detail and skillfully orchestrated patterns of multi-colored flame and foliate scroll designs. Inscriptions: An inscription below the lower register of the composition identifies the two figures depicted in the corners: Lower left, ‘Homage to the Precious (Lama) Konchog Lhundrub (1497-1557), the 10th Abbot of Ngor monastery (in office 1534-1557)’. Lower right, ‘Hail to the religious teacher Choje Kunga Lhundrub (dates unknown)’. Further inscriptions in gold ink to the upper and lower registers identify several of the portrayed deities and Lamas, including the progenitor of the Seventeen Deity Tara Mandala, Ravigupta (c. 7th-8th century), second from left in the upper register, flanked by Green Tara and Chandragarbha (Atisha), the lower register with Kamaraja, Kurukulla, Ganapati, Yellow Jambhala, and Black Jambhala. The verso with the mantra ‘Om Ah Hum’ inscribed numerous times. Provenance: From the private collection of Norman Blount (1875-1930), and thence by descent in the same family. Norman Blount was a British merchant active in Calcutta as a jute broker and senior partner of the firm Sinclair Murray & Co. In Calcutta, he co-founded and served as a secretary of the Indian Society of Oriental Art. The Society met monthly and organized art exhibitions, taught students, and published high-quality reproductions and illustrated journals. Horatio Herbert Kitchener (Lord Kitchener) was the Society’s first President. Condition: Superb condition with expected old wear, some creasing, minor soiling, very little fading to colors, few loose threads, and tiny losses. The mounting with wear and traces of use, some tears, minor losses, loose threads, fading. Dimensions: Image size 50 x 37 cm, Size incl. frame 83 x 54 cm Expert’s note: There are two variations of the Seventeen-Deity Tara mandala, both with Tara and Amoghasiddhi in the center: one shows the female deity looking straight ahead, such as the example illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item number 779; while the other shows the Cosmic Buddha in this position, like in the present lot and a thangka illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 30524. Note that this closely related thangka has an inscription dedicating the painting to Konchog Pelwa (1445-1514), the 7th Abbott of Ngor monastery and a teacher of Konchog Lhundrub, who is depicted on the present lot. Furthermore, it has to be noted that the present thangka is in absolutely original, magnificent condition. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related Seventeen Deity Tara mandala, with an inscription dedicating the painting to Konchog Pelwa (1445-1514), the 7th Abbot of Ngor monastery, dated 16th century, from a private collection, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 30524. Compare a closely related Seventeen Deity Tara mandala, dated 15th century, in the Rubin Museum, accession number P1998.4.13, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 779. Compare a closely related Seventeen Deity Tara mandala, dated 16th century, from the Jucker Collection, sold at Sotheby’s New York, 28 March 2006, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 12415. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 1 December 2023, lot 1816 Price: HKD 1,147,000 or approx. EUR 137,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Seventeen Deity Tara mandala, Tibet, circa 15th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject with Tara and Amoghasiddhi, albeit in reversed positions, surrounded by a retinue of seventeen Taras. Note the similar size (50 x 43.2 cm). Observe the lack of inscriptions and earlier dating. Due to length restriction on Drouot this entry is shortened. For full description please visit www.zacke.at.

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A FINE THANGKA OF THE SEVENTEEN-DEITY TARA MANDALA, CENTRAL TIBET, C. 1535-1550

Estimate 8 000 - 16 000 EUR
Starting price 8 000 EUR

* Not including buyer’s premium.
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For sale on Friday 28 Jun : 11:00 (CEST)
vienna, Austria
Galerie Zacke
+4315320452
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