Two tsagli paintings - Paper - Mongolia - late 19th century

Rare pair of Buddhist votive paintings on paper with inscriptions on the back

Mongolia / Tibet, late 19th century
Technique: ink and mineral pigments on handmade paper.

Dimensions:

Figure with raptor: 9 × 8 cm
Deity on clouds: 7 × 6 cm

Provenance: purchased from an antiquarian specializing in Himalayan and Central Asian art.

Description

Rare pair of small devotional Buddhist images painted on paper, traceable to the Mongolo-Tibetan cultural area of the late 19th century. The works were presumably intended for private devotion, for insertion in small domestic altars, or as portable votive images.

The first depicts a character seated facing forward, dressed in ample traditional robes, while holding a raptor perched on the left hand and a ritual offering in the right. The figure is placed on a simple stylized throne and shows a refined linear execution typical of popular religious production in the Mongolian area.

The second image depicts a deity or bodhisattva seated on stylized clouds, surrounded by a halo. In the right hand is a ritual conch, an important Buddhist symbol associated with the dissemination of teaching, while on the shoulder is an attribute resembling a scepter or ceremonial staff.

Both pieces bear handwritten inscriptions in Tibetan script on the reverse, likely referring to the identification of the figures represented, devotional formulas, or consecration notes.

Condition

Good overall state considering the fragility of the support and the age of the works. Central creases, slight edge wear, small losses, surface abrasions and the physiological fading of pigments. The inscriptions on the reverse are still partially legible.

Historical-artistic context

In terms of style, materials and iconography, the paintings are attributed to the Buddhist tradition of Mongolia under Tibetan influence, with dating placed between the late 19th and early 20th century. Similar images were widely used as tools of personal devotion and represent a significant testimony of popular religiosity in Central Asia.

Catalog entry

Object: Pair of Buddhist votive paintings with Tibetan inscriptions on the back
Cultural area: Mongolia / Mongolo-Tibetan area
Dating: Late 19th century
Materials: Handmade paper, ink and mineral pigments
Dimensions: 9 × 8 cm and 7 × 6 cm
Provenance: Purchased from an antiquarian specializing in Himalayan art
Conditions: Good, with normal signs of use, creases and wear compatible with age and devotional function.

Collecting: works of this kind are appreciated in the Himalayan and Mongolian Buddhist art market for their devotional authenticity, the rarity of the original inscriptions, and the direct testimony of popular religious practices in Central Asia between the 19th and 20th centuries.