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

Rare Pair of Buddhist votive paintings on paper with inscriptions on the reverse

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 a specialist antiques dealer in Himalayan and Central Asian art.

Description

Rare pair of small Buddhist devotional images painted on paper, attributable to the Mongol-Tibetan cultural sphere of the late 19th century. The works were presumably intended for private devotion, to be placed in small household shrines or as portable votive images.

The first depicts a frontal seated figure, dressed in spacious traditional robes, 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 an aureole. In the right hand is a ritual conch shell, an important Buddhist symbol associated with the dissemination of the teaching, while on the shoulder there is a ritual attribute akin to a scepter or ceremonial staff.

Both pieces retain inscriptions handwritten in Tibetan script on the reverse, probably referring to the identification of the depicted figures, devotional formulas, or consecration notes.

Condition

Good overall state relative to the fragility of the support and the age of the works. Central creases, slight edge wear, small losses, superficial abrasions and natural 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 attributable to the Buddhist tradition of Mongolia under Tibetan influence, with dating placed between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Similar images were widely disseminated as tools of personal devotion and represent a significant testimony of popular religiosity in Central Asia.

Catalog entry

Item: Pair of Buddhist votive paintings with Tibetan inscriptions on the reverse
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 a specialist antiques dealer in Himalayan art
Condition: Good, with normal signs of use, creases and wear compatible with age and devotional function.

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