Textiles - Tibet - 20th century

Tibetan/Chinese Thangka - Irate Deity (Mahakala/Yamantaka) - 60x40 cm
Lot Description:
In the auction, a fascinating and authentic hand-painted thangka.
Subject and Iconography:
The thangka depicts a powerful Buddhist irate deity (Dharmapala), probably a complex form of Mahakala or Yamantaka (Vajrabhairava), as suggested by the multitude of heads and arms. The central figure is dark blue, with a terrifying expression, stomping on human and animal figures on a lotus pedestal and sun/moon disks, symbolizing triumph over ego and ignorance. It wears a crown of skulls, a tiger skin, and garlands of severed heads.
Iconography is rich and detailed:
• Head: The deity has multiple overlapping faces (at least nine visible), including a prominent bull/bison head at the top, crowned by a head of Akshobhya Buddha.
• Body and Attributes: It possesses numerous arms wielding various ritual attributes (including a kartika – skinning knife, a kapala – skull cup, a trishula – trident, and others) and embraces its consort (Yab-Yum).
• Secondary Figures: In the four corners are depicted minor irate deities and protector riders on clouds and flames, surrounding the central figure. The background features stylized landscapes with mountains and whirling flames, typical of Tibetan and Sino-Tibetan painting.
Technical Details and Condition:
• Material: Mineral and organic pigments on cotton canvas.
• Painting dimensions: 60 x 40 cm (approx).
• Condition: The thangka is in its original, “found” condition. It shows evident signs of age and ritual use, authenticating its age: surface wear, folds, accumulated dirt, slight pigment losses, and fraying along the canvas edges (as visible in the detailed photos). The canvas is not mounted on brocade and has no frame. The back shows the patina of time on the rough canvas. Please carefully examine all images as part of the description.
Provenance: Private collection.
Important Shipping Notes:
NOTICE TO BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION:
Due to delicacy, the object’s age, and current customs/export regulations, this lot is available FOR SHIPMENT ONLY to countries within the European Union (EU).
NO shipments outside the EU are made. This includes, but is not limited to: United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States, Asia, Russia, and overseas islands and territories (such as Cyprus, Malta, Canary Islands, etc., if separate customs procedures are required).
Please DO NOT bid if your shipping address is outside the European Union. Bids from such countries will be cancelled and the item will not be shipped.
Additional Platform Details:
• Category: Asian Art / Buddhist Art
• Height (cm): 60
• Width (cm): 40
• Depth (cm): 0.1 (canvas thickness)
• Region of Origin: Tibet / China (Sino-Tibetan)
• Condition: Used, with evident signs of age (original condition).