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15. A miniature thangka Tibet or Mongolia 19th century ink, pigment and gold on prepared cloth Dimensions: 3 ¾” x 3 ¼” (9.5 x 8.5 cm) |
The painting in exquisite detail and glowing colours depicts and extraordinarily expressive image of Yama, Lord of Death within a flaming nimbus. He holds a skull cup filled with matter on a bed of leaves in his left hand, while his right holds aloft a cluster of jewels (norbu). His grinning face with a fiendish look has a third eye. He wears a golden diadem with gold filaments snaking up his bluue horns. A diminutive single syllable in Tibetan script appears in his flying hair. Large blessing in red to the reverse. A true tour de force of the miniaturist’s art. |