**Originally Listed At $750**

Central Asia, Tibet, ca. 19th century CE. A beautiful, iconographically rich thangka mounted on a pale blue silk background, sewn to cloth and fitted with wooden dowels on upper and lower ends; strips of cloth hand down from the top in order to secure. The thangka depicts Mahakala, a dharmapala (protector deity) in Tibetan Buddhism. Size when unfurled: 13.7" W x 20" H (34.8 cm x 50.8 cm)

In bright colors and with dramatic touches of golden paint, the artwork here shows Mahakala wearing his characteristic flat helmet, astride a fierce lion. He has three eyes and draws back a bow in two of his six arms; he brandishes swords and staffs in the other four in a fierce image of protection. Flames rise behind and around him, with riders astride horses, another lion, and an elephant gesturing towards him. The Buddha sits above the scene, gazing down upon it. Its silken background has a swirling floral design. Thangka serve as teaching tools, but also as focal points for devotion when brought out during a ritual. They also can be used for meditation, allowing the viewer to focus on the scene at hand and put away earthly distractions.

Provenance: private Millburn, New Jersey, USA collection

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#120072

Silk has some areas of discoloration as shown. Slight fading to paint.