Lot 84
Southeast Asia, Tibet, ca. 18th / 19th century CE. This lot features a pair of Tibetan thangkas, the subject of one is the 21 forms of the goddess Green Tara. In Buddhism, Tara (Sanskrit for star) is a savior goddess. In Tibet, she is the most important deity and her name is Sgrol-ma (she who saves). She is also popular in Nepal and Mongolia. Tara is the goddess of supreme compassion, said to be stronger than a mother's love for her children. In addition, Tara is said to bring about longevity, protect earthly travel, and guard followers on their spiritual journey to enlightenment. According to Buddhist teachings, Tara was born out of the tears of compassion of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who wept as he observed the suffering of worldly beings, his tears formed a lake from which a lotus sprung. When the lotus opened, the goddess Tara was within. This example is stitched to black cotton fabric. The painting itself measures 18-1/2"W x 25"L, the entire piece measures 25"W x 45"L. The second thangka features a depiction of the Guru Rinpoche (Precious Teacher), the greatest Buddhist mystic saint in 8th century India. He was invited by the Tibetan King Trisong Detsen when local spirits created supranatural obstacles to the construction of Samye, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. After an intensive meditation retreat in Nepal he entered Tibet subduing negative energies and political obstacles to the establishment of Buddhism in the Land of the Snows. The tales of his spiritual exploits and the profound teachings he passed to the King and 24 other disciples fill thousands of volumes. In this example, Guru Rinpoche Padmasamhava is depicted in the most customary way, gazing ahead, with a face adorned with a moustache and goatee, his skin tone is white with a reddish hue. He sits on a lotus that sprang up from a small lake, is wrapped in voluminous robes, and dons a hat with earflaps which symbolizes the guru's receptivity to prayers and entreaties. In his right hand he holds a vajra and a kapala (skullcap) with a jar of amrita in his left hand, and a khatvanga (staff) held against his left shoulder. The skull cap is filled with nectar of immortality, a symbol of the transitory nature of matter. On his hat are symbols of the sun and moon indicating the guru's cosmic omnipotence and continuous alertness both day and night. His consorts, the Indian princess Mandarava and Yeshe Tsogyal, stand by his sides. These are the two most gifted tantrically and favorite wives. The painting is set within an embroidered border of black and metallic threads. The painting itself measures 20" wide x 33" long, 26 1/2" wide x 45" long with the fabric border. Provenance: Ex-Dr. Charles Smithen Collection, Ex-private Palm Beach, Florida collection. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. #102627
- Condition: Both show age and wear to paintings. Two small holes at bottom corners of Green Tara thangka. Guru Rinpoche thangka shows damage to bordering fabric as well.
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