Lot 51
19th C. Nepalese Thangka - Vasudhara Goddess of Wealth
19th C. Nepalese Thangka - Vasudhara Goddess of Wealth
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Central Asia, Nepal, Newar Buddhist tradition, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A vibrant thangka depicting Vasudhara, the Buddhist goddess of abundance, wealth, and generosity, rendered in the distinctive style of Newar Buddhist painting. The goddess is shown seated in royal ease (lalitasana) upon a lotus throne, her golden complexion symbolizing prosperity and fertility. She is depicted with six arms, each bearing attributes that encapsulate her divine functions. In her upper hands she holds a palm-leaf manuscript, emblematic of the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) text, and a string of prayer beads (mala), signifying the practice of unbroken devotion. Other hands display a sheaf of grain, the promise of harvest and sustenance, and the wish-fulfilling jewel (cintamani), source of inexhaustible bounty. Her lower right hand is extended in the boon-granting gesture (varada mudra), offering blessings to devotees. At her feet rests a treasure vase, the inexhaustible container of wealth, completing her role as bestower of prosperity. Size: 27.1" W x 40" H (68.8 cm x 101.6 cm)
The goddess is framed by large lotus blossoms at her shoulders, signifying purity and her bodhisattva nature, and crowned with the five-jewel tiara of enlightened compassion. The border of the painting includes a protective roundel depicting a kirtimukha, a fierce yet auspicious face motif common in Nepalese Buddhist art.
The reverse of the painting bears a dedicatory inscription in Devanagari script, a hallmark of Nepalese paubha (scroll paintings) rather than Tibetan thangkas. This further supports its attribution to the Kathmandu Valley, where Vasudhara has long held a central role in Newar Buddhist practice. Painted with opaque mineral pigments, bold black outlines, and compact floral motifs, the style reflects the Newar workshop traditions of the late 19th to early 20th century. Such thangkas were devotional aids, used in household and monastic contexts to invoke the goddess's blessings for wealth, fertility, and generosity, embodying the ideal that prosperity should be both enjoyed and shared.
Provenance: private Brooklyn, New York, USA collection, inherited from uncle Jerzy Ostrovsy, Afghanistan, 1960s-1970s, likely acquired in Asia during that time
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#197293
- Condition: Cover sheet of thangka has tearing, fraying, and losses. Wooden mounts have some bending and splintering. Staining and fading to pigment throughout, but, otherwise, very nice imagery.
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