Lot Essay
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FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE TELFAIR ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, U.S.A., TO BENEFIT THE ACQUISITIONS FUND
A TIBETAN WOODEN BOOK COVER, BASE AND A FEW TEXT PAGES, of the first volume (ka) of the Prajnaparamita-sutra, the cover carved in deep relief with Prajnaparamita in the centre, her principle hands in abhayamudra and resting on her lap, both other hands holding vajra and pustaka, seated on an elaborate throne, flanked to her right by Buddha Sakyamuni, with his right hand in bhumisparsamudra, to her left by Vairocana, both hands in dharmacakramudra, all surrounded by dense scrolling and various gods and deities, one side carved with the first letter (ka) of the Tibetan alphabet, the plain base with similar carved character ka, traces of gilding, several pages of the Prajnaparamita-sutra, in gold written dBu-can script against a black ground, late 16th Century, text probably later
Details
A TIBETAN WOODEN BOOK COVER, BASE AND A FEW TEXT PAGES, of the first volume (ka) of the Prajnaparamita-sutra, the cover carved in deep relief with Prajnaparamita in the centre, her principle hands in abhayamudra and resting on her lap, both other hands holding vajra and pustaka, seated on an elaborate throne, flanked to her right by Buddha Sakyamuni, with his right hand in bhumisparsamudra, to her left by Vairocana, both hands in dharmacakramudra, all surrounded by dense scrolling and various gods and deities, one side carved with the first letter (ka) of the Tibetan alphabet, the plain base with similar carved character ka, traces of gilding, several pages of the Prajnaparamita-sutra, in gold written dBu-can script against a black ground, late 16th Century, text probably later
77 x 32 cm (slight wear)
77 x 32 cm (slight wear)
Provenance
Donated to the museum in 1928