Upper book cover (tib. legshing)

Description:

Tibet, 14th / 15th cent.
29,2 x 75,5 x 4,1 cm
Large upper book cover made of gilt and painted wood with fine carving. The gilded centre field is framed by pearl strings and shows the three main deities Buddha Shakyamuni, Majushri and Prajanparamita in the centre. They are each seated on a throne of lions or horses, surrounded by a richly decorated torana formed by mythological animals. Prajnaparamita, the goddess of perfect wisdom, holds a vajra and book in two hands, while her main hands show abhayamudra and avakasamudra. Above her we see Garuda with two flanking apsaras. Above Shakyamuni and Manjushri each a monster mask (Isipata), the space in between is filled with tendrils and two deities Vajrapani in a lunge and Avalokiteshvara (four-armed) each on a lotus pedestal. The äußer rim is painted with tendrils in red and black colour. The back of the book cover is painted with a geometric pattern in red, brown, yellow and black. The right narrow side is decorated with carved tendrils.
Old and important German private collection, collected since the 1950s until 2007, coll. no. 95, which indicates an acquisition before 1990 - Traces of age, wear and partly chipped