Lot 592
19th C. Tibetan Thangka Amitayus 'Boundless Life' with Flanking Figures
19th C. Tibetan Thangka Amitayus 'Boundless Life' with Flanking Figures
Starting Bid: $800
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Central Asia, Tibet., ca. 1800 - 1899 CE. A venerable long-life deity presides over this compact yet devotionally rich Tibetan thangka, painted in mineral pigments on cloth and mounted in its original brocade silk surround. Amitayus, the "Boundless Life" emanation of Amitabha Buddha, occupies the composition in his characteristic sambhogakaya form: red-bodied, crowned, and richly ornamented with bodhisattva jewels, seated in full vajraparyankasana above a white lotus throne, hands resting in dhyanamudra, his kalasha of amrita nestled in his lap like a promise kept. Twin lotus stems ascend to either shoulder, his most recognizable attribute, framing the figure within a blue inner aureole and a broad orange mandorla ringed in rainbow bands. Behind him, a jade-green nimbus rises against a cerulean sky streaked with stylized clouds. Size of painting: 13.3" W x 17.8" H (33.8 cm W x 45.2 cm H); of cloth: 21.3" W x 34.5" H (54.1 cm W x 87.6 cm H); of frame: 28" W x 43" H x 3.8" D (71.1 cm W x 109.2 cm H x 9.7 cm D)
The lower register pairs a red-robed lineage lama, seated informally in his monastic hat, with a golden, crown-adorned deity, perhaps Vasudhara or yellow Jambhala, the two figures flanking a central offering vessel to complete the traditional trifecta of blessings: longevity, lineage, and abundance. The lama portrait suggests a specific institutional affiliation, most likely Sakya or Kagyu, though without an inscription on the verso, his name remains a pleasing open question.
The painting belongs to a provincial workshop tradition of the 19th century, competent and sincere if not academically refined in the manner of the Karma Gadri or Menri schools. The brocade mounting, in deep burgundy damask with geometric repeat patterning, is original to the thangka and survives with the painting in a modern shadowbox frame. A meditation object first and an art object second, it has lost none of the quiet authority of its original purpose.
Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection
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Item #
201675
- Condition: Mounted behind glass in custom frame; has not been examined outside of frame. Expected age wear with creases, small tears, pulls, fraying, and losses to pigment as shown. Otherwise, nicely preserved with clear imagery and vibrant pigments.
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| $750 | $1,499 | $50 |
| $1,500 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $7,499 | $250 |
| $7,500 | $14,999 | $500 |
| $15,000 + | $1,000 |