Page 112 - Bonhams Asian & Chinese Art November 2018

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A THANGKA OF VAJRAPANI AND A Provenance
THANGKA OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI The Oliver Robert Coales Collection, acquired
Eastern Tibet, 19th century by Mr. Coales when working and travelling
Distemper on cloth; the first, with central in Eastern Tibet in 1916-17, and thence by
figure of Vajrapani surrounded by ten descent.
manifestations, the wrathful deity with blue
skin, three eyes, holding a five-pointed vajra The first thangka comes with a paper note
in his right hand, the left tightly clasping a in Tibetan and English, probably written by
Naga, wearing a skull tiara with half-vajra local monks for Mr. Coales, with cartouches
finial, a small Garuda nestled atop the enclosing Tibetan writing identifying the
twisting mane of yellow hair, with, from left iconography. The present ‘guide’ is inscribed
to right above him, Manjushri, Shadakshari ‘Jamyang’, ‘Chenraizi’, and ‘Urgyen’ across
Lokeshvara and Padmasambhava in his the top, the central figure is identified as
Guru Orgyen Dorje Chang manifestation, all ‘Pyag-na Dorje’; below, ‘Others except
above a kneeling practitioner in monk’s attire, above his trials and transformations’.
and against a formal green landscape, with
hand-written ‘guide’ in Tibetan, 77cm (30 Vajrapani is one of the most important
1/5in) x 51cm (20in); the second, with central Bodhisattvas; within the Mahayana tradition
seated Shakyamuni on a lotus cushion he is considered one of the Eight heart-sons
above a square throne, with Tsongkhapa of Buddha Shakyamuni and often portrayed
and Vajradhara and consort directly above, as peaceful. In the Vajrayana tradition,
a further figure of Tsongkhapa flanked by his on the other hand, he is generally shown
two favoured students, and of Vajrabhairava in his wrathful form of Guhyapati - ‘the
and consort directly underneath, surrounded Lord of Secrets.’ He is the said to be the
by a multitude of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, main recipient, holder, and protector of all
meditational deities and monks in a variety of the Tantra texts, literature, and teachings
hats and attires, all above the altar laid with received from the Buddha Shakyamuni.
offerings and the practitioner at the bottom of
the painting, 85cm (33 1/2in) x 65.5cm
(‘guide’) (25 3/4in).
(2).

£800 - 1,200
HK$8,200 - 12,000
CNY7,200 - 11,000

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