A gilt bronze torana

TIBET, 16TH CENTURY

Details

A gilt bronze torana
Tibet, 16th century
With a Brikuti and Ekajati flanking a central void surrounded by lush scrolling foliate vines, interspersed with deities seated on lotus bases, swans, two standing bodhisattvas and devotees, richly gilt overall
8 in. (20.3 cm.) high

Provenance

Onno Janssens Collection, Netherlands, acquired from Koller, Zurich, November 1999, lot 71

Literature

Himalayan Art Resources, www.himalayanart.org, item no. 66769

Lot Essay

This torana framed Tara flanked by Bhrikuti and Ekajati. Directly above at the top is a Tibetan teacher wearing a red pandita hat and below that the figure of Amitabha Buddha. At the upper right and left are depictions of the Eight Taras protecting from the Eight fears: lions, elephants, snakes, fire, water, thieves, imprisonment, and ghosts. Each figure is also accompanied by a very small human figure receiving the protection.

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