Asian Arts | Exhibitions
Introduction by David Weldon

Rossi & Rossi
Guardians of the Sacred Word

Anna Maria Rossi and Fabio Rossi present Guardians of the Sacred Word, a fascinating exhibition celebrating the splendour of Tibetan manuscript covers in New York this autumn. The opulence of the 34 works on view, dating from the 12th to the 15th century, demonstrates the imaginative response of craftsmen to the influx of Indian Buddhist texts sweeping through Tibet. Carved, gilded and painted, these rare manuscript covers will be shown at the Barbara Mathes Gallery, 41 East 57th Street, New York, NY 10022, from Wednesday 18 September to Saturday 19 October 1996.

Text and images © Rossi and Rossi: not to be reproduced without permission
click on the small image for full screen image with caption

1.Upper and lower covers from an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa twelfth century
10x60 cm


2.Lower cover from an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 12th century
27x70 cm



3.Upper cover of an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 1200
27x74 cm



4.Lower cover from an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 1200
26x73.5 cm



5.Lower cover of an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 1200
24x74 cm



6.Upper and lower covers from an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 1200
11X41.5 cm



7.Upper cover from an unidentified manuscript marked with the letter ka, the first letter of the Tibetan alphabet
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 1200
30 x 75 cm



8.Lower cover from an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 13th century
27x73 cm



9.Upper cover from an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 1200 - 1300
25 x 72.5 cm



10.Upper and lower covers from an unidentified manuscript with the letter ka, the first letter of the Tibetan alphabet, painted in gold on red
carved and painted wood
Tibet
circa 1200 - 1300
24.5x72 cm



11.Upper or lower cover of an unidentified manuscript
carved and painted wood
Tibet
14th century
26.5x71 cm



12.Upper cover from an unidentified manuscript, marked with the letter ba, the fifteenth letter of the Tibetan alphabet
carved and painted wood
Tibet
14th century
28x70 cm



Introduction by David Weldon
Asian Arts | Exhibitions