Physical description
Buddhist silk thangka embroidered with a central figure of the Buddhist divinity, Avalokiteshvara. The figure has eight pairs of hands, two clasped in the attitude of mercy, the others holding respectively a praying wheel, a rosary, a lotus flower, a bow and arrow and a vase. Behind are radiating hands with eyes, a double halo, a mountainous and wooded landscape and clouds. Above seated upon lotus pedestals and supported on clouds are six smaller figures, also with double halos, representing former manifestations of the same divinity. In either corner of the foreground beneath are two figures seated upon mats, probably representing the Dalai ("the vast") Lama and the Panchen (Great Doctor) Lama, the two chief dignitaries of the Tibetan worship. The former, to the left, wears a peaked cap, and holds a vase in one hand, and a thunderbolt resting on a lotus in the other. The latter, to the right, is an effigy of Sakyamuni Buddha with the hands raised in the attitude of preaching. There are three narrow edging and a broad border of brocade all woven with close floral patterns in gold thread, dark blue, yellow, green and red silks. Yellow silk lining. At the top are two gilt metal loops for suspension. (dated 1783?)
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
1770-1800 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Embroidery in floss silks and gold thread on silk
Dimensions
Length: 127 cm, Width: 73.5 cm
Object history note
Registered File number 27847/1902, 91032/1902.
Descriptive line
Buddhist thangka, embroidery in floss silks and gold thread on silk, China, 1770-1800
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Wilson, Verity. Chinese Textiles, 2nd edition, London: V&A Publications, 2005, plate 79.
Waddell, L. Austine. The Buddhism of Tibet, or Lamaism. London: W.H. Allen & Co, 1895, pp. 356, 7 illustration p. 15.
Materials
Silk (textile); Silk thread; Gold thread
Techniques
Embroidered; Woven
Subjects depicted
達賴; 佛; Lotus flowers; Landscapes; 蓮座; 班禪; 千手千眼觀音; 四十二手眼
Categories
Textiles; Buddhism; Embroidery
Collection
East Asia Collection