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Lot Essay
Heavily cast gilt bronze friezes of this type are characteristic for the Kagyu monastic complex of Densatil, southeast of Lhasa. Founded in the late 12th century, it enjoyed generous patronage and was lavishly decorated during a period of expansion from circa 1360 through the early 15th century. A series of stupas were commissioned for the princes of Tsetang, who served as de facto rulers of Tibet from the mid-14th until the mid-16th century.
Friezes were installed along the bases of large stupas as described by S.C. Das and G. Tucci following their expedition in 1948, and as documented by the Italian photographer Pietro Mele (see P. Mele, Tibet, 1975, p. 61). The site suffered destruction during the Cultural Revolution, while a number of plaques of this type were salvaged.
For another example of a plaque of Mahakala, in the Pritzker Collections, see A. Heller, Tibetan Art, 1999, cat. no. 84; and another of a Nagaraja in R. Fisher, Art of Tibet, 1997, fig. 146.
Friezes were installed along the bases of large stupas as described by S.C. Das and G. Tucci following their expedition in 1948, and as documented by the Italian photographer Pietro Mele (see P. Mele, Tibet, 1975, p. 61). The site suffered destruction during the Cultural Revolution, while a number of plaques of this type were salvaged.
For another example of a plaque of Mahakala, in the Pritzker Collections, see A. Heller, Tibetan Art, 1999, cat. no. 84; and another of a Nagaraja in R. Fisher, Art of Tibet, 1997, fig. 146.