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Lot 189

TWO BOOKCOVERS, EACH MOUNTED IN A GLASS CASE

Estimated Value:

1.500 € - 2.500 €

Schätzpreis:

Description:

Mongolia, ca, 17th c. and later
L. 52,5/ 56 cm R.
Paper, in several layers, pigments. Book cover, for a Buddhist sutra, consists of several layers of paper, in the absence of wood in the region. Through deep cutouts from the thickness of the cardboard, three niches were created with representations of deities, and a writing. The middle niche shows a raised inscription, originally applied in gold paste, with the content: "rgya gar skad du" - " to be read in Indian", and points to a book that is in Indian tradition. The smaller niche on the left shows the historical Buddha in his traditional representation, on his lion throne, surrounded by the symbolic animals representing the virtues of a world ruler: they are, from top to bottom, in order: Garuda, two snakes, two dragons or dolphin-like mythical animals (makara); two rams; each with a dwarf on its back; then still elephant and lion follow as throne animals. The right niche shows the goddess of fertility and prosperity - Vasudhara. Her iconographic color is yellow. The attibutes of her upturned hands are unclear. One hand is in her lap holding a golden treasure vase, and one hand she holds in front of her chest in the gesture of reasoning. In the surrounding frieze, around the inner field, are depictions of the "Thirty-Five Purifying Buddhas." In Tibetan Buddhism, these Buddhas are regularly invoked, and their names recited, to purify the "defiled" mind - The second book cover: three niches were cut out of the panel and the entire surface covered with silk. The larger niche in the center shows a paste-applied inscription with gold ornamentation. The inscription in Tibetan means: "rgya gar skad du" - " to read in Indian", and points to a content of the book which is in Indian tradition. On the left side of the inscription is painted a torma-shaped cartouche showing all the "Eight Symbols of Happiness": umbrella, two fish, treasure vase, lotus flower, infinite knot, the snail shell, the wheel and the umbrella of honor. The left niche shows the historical Buddha Shakyamuni in his iconographically known appearance, the right hand in the gesture of touching the earth, on a moon photo. The opposite niche represents the "Goddess of Wisdom" - Prajnaparamita, of iconographically yellow color. She is four-armed and holds in her upper right hand, deviating from her usual vajra, a lotus flower and on the left the eponymous wisdom book of Mahayana Buddhism - Prajnaparamita. The two lower hands lie together in the lap.
Important German private collection, collected in the 1970s and 80s, mostly acquired at Schoettle Ostasiatica, Stuttgart
Partly damages due to age