AN EMBROIDERED SILK THANGKA OF PADMASAMBHAVA, QING DYNASTY China, late 18^th to early 19^th century, possibly Imperial workshops. Finely woven with Padmasambhava in the center, seated on a lotus throne emerging from water, his right in vitarka mudra, his left holding a staff, backed by a halo, surrounded by lamas, Mahakala in the lower left corner, on top Hayagriva and Shakyamuni, all meticulously set in a mountain landscape with deer, ducks in the background and pearls and other offerings among crashing waves in the foreground.

Provenance: From an old private collection in New York City, USA.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, little staining, and few loose threads. The frame with old wear and small nicks.

Dimensions: Size incl. frame 87 x 60 cm, image size 66.5 x 40 cm

Matted and framed behind glass.

Expert's note: Silk textiles of high quality are among the most revered articles in Buddhist worship in China and Tibet. Similar to sculptures and paintings, the finest textile Buddha images were commissioned to accrue religious merit. During the early Ming dynasty, magnificent silk thangkas were produced by the Chinese Imperial workshops as gifts to Tibetan monasteries. The tradition of weaving and embroidering sacred images and presenting them as lavish gifts to Tibetan monks of the highest ranks not only continued throughout the Qing dynasty, but rather became a common governmental practice.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams New York, 23 July 2020, lot 846
Price: USD 57,575 or approx. EUR 61,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An embroidered silk thangka of the Buddha of healing, Qing dynasty, late 18th/early 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related silk embroidery with the same rare tone of salmon color used in the background. Note the size (88.6 x 45.8 cm).



清代蓮花生大士刺繡唐卡
中國，十八世紀末至十九世紀初，可能為御製。高僧坐在水中蓮花上，右手施安慰印，左手持嘎巴拉碗，三叉戟“卡杖嘎”靠在肩上，身穿長袍，頭戴僧帽，後有光背。喇嘛、大黑天、馬頭王與釋迦牟尼陪伴四周，山水為背景，可見祥鹿與鴛鴦戲水，以及寶珠與其他供養物。

來源：美國紐約私人老收藏。
品相：品相極好，輕微磨損, 輕微染色，局部織線鬆散。外框有磨損和小刻痕。

尺寸：總 87 x 60 厘米, 畫面 66.5 x 40 厘米

玻璃面裝框。

專家注釋：高品質的絲綢紡織品是中國和西藏佛教文化中最重要的物品之一。與雕塑和繪畫類似，最好的紡織佛像用來積累宗教功德。在明朝初期，中國宮廷唐卡作坊製作了華麗的絲綢唐卡作為禮物送給西藏寺院。編織和刺繡神像，並作為奢華禮物贈送給最高級別的西藏僧侶的傳統，不僅延續了整個清朝，而且成為一種普遍的政府禮儀慣例。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約邦瀚斯， 2020年7月23日，lot 846
價格：USD 57,575（相當於今日EUR 62,500）
描述：清代十八世紀末/十九世紀初絲質刺繡藥師佛唐卡
專家評論：比較密切相近的絲繡，背景中使用了同樣罕見的鮭魚色調。注意尺寸（88.6 x 45.8厘米）。