A THANGKA DEPICTING THE MANDALA OF SARVABUDDHADAKINI

Description:

TIbet, 16th century
65 x 55 (95 x70) cm
The painting is showing a mandala with the blue Sarvabuddhadakini at the centre dancing on a lotus base, her hands holding karttrika and skull-cup while the khatvanga is resting against her shoulder, naked apart from a bone-skirt, bejewelled, her face is displaying a severe expression, her flaming hairdo secured with a tiara ornamented with skulls, surrounded by four emanations interlinked with kalashas, each set against a lotus petal, the central medallion placed within a square with to each side the entrance and showing various emanations of the deity, encircled by a band of lotus petals, the eight graveyards and clouds, the upper corners with Prajnaparamita and Kurukulla, the lower register with an eight-armed form of Tara and Panjaramahakala and all placed against a background of scrolling tendrils, in silk mounting.
Old European private collection, assembled before 1990 - Minor traces of age and wear, minor rest.