Page 74 - Bonhams Image of Devotion Hong Kong December 2, 2021

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A THANKGA OF A NYINGMA TEACHER the red lacquer throne and pearl-wielding dragons, were not
GOLOK, NORTHEASTERN TIBET, LATE 19TH CENTURY enough to attribute this thangka to a Tibetan province close to Han
Distemper on cloth; recto with two Tibetan inscriptions in gold with
the names of the historic figures in the top corners; with original silk China in the 19th century, the presence of Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje
mounts. (1800-86) from the Northeastern province of Golok in the top right
Himalayan Art Resources item no.16995 corner reaffirms it. Yeshe Dorje, who is identified by an accompanying
Image: 61 x 44 cm (24 x 17 1/4 in.); inscription, was an important Nyingma master (see treasuryoflives.
With silks: 123 x 78.5 cm (48 1/2 x 30 7/8 in.)
org no.9612). His inclusion, as well as that of Samantabhadra at
top center, who the Nyingma consider the Primordial Buddha,
HKD60,000 - 80,000
also affirm the central subject was a guru in the Nyingma school of
Tibetan Buddhism. From left to right in the landscape below are three
果洛 西藏東北部 十九世紀末 寧瑪上師唐卡
guardians: Shadbhuja Mahalaka, a regional worldly protector, and
A large, distinctive portrait of an unidentified teacher sits enthroned Ekajati.
before an altar of offerings at the center of this vivid painting. If the Provenance
composition’s vibrant hues and conspicuous Sinicized motifs, such as Private Australian Collection

72 | BONHAMS