Page 58 - Fine Chinese, Japanese and Buddhist Art September 28, 2018 Galerie Zacke

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A MAGNIFICENT THANGKA OF
GURU RINPOCHE IN ZANGDOK
PALRI
Distemper and gold paint on
cloth, framed by segmented
silk brocade mounting, metal
handles, protective silk cover
Sino-Tibetan, early 20 century
th

This thangka shows the detailed
motif of Guru Rinpoche /
Padmasambhava in his pureland,
the so-called Zangdok Palri. A top
a mountainous island with lush
vegetation we see the central
image of Guru Rinpoche with
his classical attributes, a vajra
and a kapala, in his hands. The
concept of heaven and hell are
captured in this vivid painting
with celestial beings at the upper
part and wrathful deities at the
lower end. The thangka bears an
inscription and a stupa symbol on
the backside.

Zangdok Palri, known as the
Glorious Copper-Colored
Mountain, is the terrestrial Pure
Land of Guru Padmasambhava
(also known as Guru Rinpoche).
Zangdok Palri is located on
the southeastern subcontinent
Chamara (sometimes identified
with Sri Lanka), which was an
untamed abode of demons
until Guru Padmasambhava
subdued them and transformed
them into compassionate beings
by means of his miraculous
powers. It is believed that Guru
Padmasambhava lives today, in
an indestructible body, in his
palace atop the Copper-Colored
Mountain.

Shape: Rectangular vertical shape
Dimensions: 72 x 53 cm (painting
size), 139 x 100 cm (mounting) 45
Condition: The painting is in A FINE THANGKA WITH DEITIES IN LOTUS TREE Provenance: Austrian Private Collection
overall good condition with Distemper and gold paint on cloth, framed by segmented
some creases and abrasions. The silk brocade mounting, protective silk cover 咖剙㶐⛇Ⓒ⌉
mounting is in fine condition as Sino-Tibetan, around 1900 ⶫ朊慹⼑丒䔓炻䵝䶆墅墙炻央味䴚䵊ᾅ嬟
well 㻊啷炻䲬1900⸜
Provenance: Austrian Private This thangka shows the unusual motif of a tree seemingly ⑩䚠列⤥炻ṃ姙㐢䕽⍲㐑㒎炻䔓墙䉨㱩列⤥
Collection made from lotus petals with wrathful Vajrapani at the ⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ㓞啷
centre. At the very top we see Samanthabhadra with
戭刚⎱䤍Ⱉṩ㲊↯ᶲⷓⒸ⌉ his consort in Yab Yum or a green and a white tara. The EstimateġEUR 500,-
ⶫ朊慹⼑丒䔓炻䵝䶆墅墙炻慹Ⱄ䩳 lower end bears a portrayal of Guru Rinpoche in the left Starting price EUR 250,-
庠炻央味䴚䵊ᾅ嬟 and of wrathful deities in the right corner. The backside
㻊啷炻20ᶾ䲨㖑㛇 with inscription.
⑩䚠列⤥炻ᶨṃ㐢䕽⍲䢐㒎炻䔓墙
䉨㱩列⤥ Shape: Rectangular vertical shape
⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ㓞啷 Dimensions: 62 x 49 cm (painting size), 121 x 92 cm
(mounting)
EstimateġEUR 800,- Condition: The painting is in overall good condition with
Starting price EUR 400,- some creases, stains and abrasions. The mounting is in
fine condition as well

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