Page 280 - Bonhams Chinese Art NYC Nov 9 2017

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A RARE THANGKA OF CHAKRASAMVARA
Tibet, 17th century
Distemper on cloth, the wrathful deity with four faces and twelve
arms standing in alidhasana atop a lotus throne, holding aloft a flayed
elephant skin and ritual weapons, embracing consort Vajravarahi
within the flaming halo of pristine awareness, the upper register with
Vajradhara and consort at the centre, flanked by lineage masters
and sparsely-clad mahasiddhas wearing long black hair and red
meditational belts, the lower section with Shri Shmashana Adhipati
between Shadbhuja Mahakala and Chaturmukha Mahakala,
unmounted.
42.5 x 28cm (16 6/8 x 11 in)

£20,000 - 30,000
CNY180,000 - 270,000

十七世紀 彩繪勝樂金剛唐卡

Provenance: a European private collection

來源： 歐洲私人收藏

Chakrasamvara is the principal transformational deity (yiddam) of the
Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also the focal deity of the
main tantra of the Anuttarayoga Wisdom classification of Buddhism,
symbolising the fulfilment of Wisdom and Compassion when blissfully
embracing his consort. Surrounding the principal deity in the present
thangka are lineage members and emanations. Beginning from the
top left corner, the brown-coloured figures may be the Indian master
Naropa and his student Tilopa; the figures below Vajradhara may be
Brahmin-born Saraha and Nagarjuna, founder of the Madhyamaka
philosophical system; at the right corner, yellow hat lamas; the
lower register painted with two dancing skeletons, enlightened
deities bringing wealth, which are flanked by two protectors of the
Chakrasamvara Tantra.

Compare with a related thangka depicting Chakrasamvara and his
consort, 17th/18th century, which was sold at Sotheby’s New York,
17 September 2014, lot 405.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
278 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.