Tangkasnet Thangka Tibetan Buddhist Textile Scroll Painting, 19th Century

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Tangkasnet Thangka Tibetan Buddhist Textile Scroll Painting, 19th Century

About the Item

Antique Tangkasnet Thangka Tibetan scroll features hand-painted central Buddhist figure in ring of stylized fire with surround design of figures, hunt scenes, and village scenes, 19th century Measures: Overall 56" H x 42" W, los: 39" H x 32" W Additional information: A tangkasnet, variously spelt as thangka, tangka, thanka, tangkasnet or tanka (Nepali pronunciation: ['??????]; Tibetan: ?????; Nepal Bhasa: ????), is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton, silk appliqué, or human skin usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala. Tangkas are traditionally kept unframed and rolled up when not on display, mounted on a textile backing somewhat in the style of Chinese scroll paintings, with a further silk cover on the front. So treated, tangkas can last a long time, but because of their delicate nature, they have to be kept in dry places where moisture will not affect the quality of the silk. Most thankas are relatively small, comparable in size to a Western half-length portrait, but some are extremely large, several metres in each dimension; these were designed to be displayed, typically for very brief periods on a monastery wall, as part of religious festivals. Most thankas were intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students. They often have elaborate compositions including many very small figures. A central deity is often surrounded by other identified figures in a symmetrical composition. Narrative scenes are less common, but do appear. Thangka serve as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas. One subject is The Wheel of Life (Bhavachakra), which is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of Enlightenment). The term may sometimes be used of works in other media than painting, including reliefs in metal and woodblock prints. Today printed reproductions at poster size of painted thangka are commonly used for devotional as well as decorative purposes. Many tangkas were produced in sets, though they have often subsequently become separated. Thangka perform several different functions. Images of deities can be used as teaching tools when depicting the life (or lives) of the Buddha, describing historical events concerning important Lamas, or retelling myths associated with other deities. Devotional images act as the centerpiece during a ritual or ceremony and are often used as mediums through which one can offer prayers or make requests. Overall, and perhaps most importantly, religious art is used as a meditation tool to help bring one further down the path to enlightenment. The Buddhist Vajrayana practitioner uses a thanga image of their yidam, or meditation deity, as a guide, by visualizing "themselves as being that deity, thereby internalizing the Buddha qualities"[1] tangkas hang on or beside altars, and may be hung in the bedrooms or offices of monks and other devotees.

Dimensions:
Height: 56 in (142.24 cm)Width: 42 in (106.68 cm)Depth: 0.1 in (2.54 mm)
Materials and Techniques:
Textile,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
Tibet
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
19th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Age related tears and small holes.
Seller Location:
Big Flats, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: 635561stDibs: LU239639095053