Thangka of Eight Arm Avalokiteshvara, 17-18th Century

A paint on cloth thangka of Avalokiteshvara with eleven heads and eight arms dating from the 17th or 18th century. He stands upright on a lotus pedestal, and he holds in his arms a jug, a bow and arrow, a lotus, prayer beads, and a dharma wheel. His elaborate jewelry stands out against his white skin. The stack of faces consist of several colors, with the top two heads being those of Mahakala and Amitabha Buddha. The background teems with lotuses and clouds. Above Avalokiteshvara are the Five Transcendent or Symbolic Buddhas: (in order from left to right) Amitabha, Akshobya, Vairochana, Ratnasambhava, and Amoghasiddhi. Below are White Tara and Green Tara flanking the Guardian King of the North, Vaishravana, as well as two other deities. The thangka is mounted on a cloth backing.

Dimensions are: 29 1/2 inches tall X 19 3/4 inches wide, 74.9 cm X 50.2 cm. All measurements are approximate.

Condition: There is creasing including loss to the surface and areas of overpainting. The back is unexamined. A reminder that all lots are sold as-is. We have sought to record the changes in the condition of this piece after its initial manufacture as diligently as possible; however, as stated in our terms, condition reports are statements of opinion and not representations or warranties. Oakridge Auction Gallery bears no responsibility for any error or omission.

Provenance: From Mrs. Fullerton in New Jersey. Her father, Maurice Etangs, was chief of police in Tianjin, China and lived there from 1935 to 1945. This lot was collected during that time.

High resolution photos can be found here.