Lot 362 , A thangka depicting Buddha Shakyamuni, Tibet, 19th century, Total dimensions 148cm x 102cm

A thangka depicting Buddha Shakyamuni, Tibet, 19th century, the central figure surrounded by two deities and four arhats (luohan) in a landscape, image including red and cream painted borders, 97cm x 65.5cm, blue brocade borders, scroll mounted, Total dimensions 148cm x 102cm
Estimate £400-600

Provenance - The Pestalozzi International Foundation collection of Tibetan thangkas, Buddhist figures and ritual objects.

In 1947, the British Pestalozzi Children's Village association was founded by Dr Henry Alexander - a German, Jewish, refugee who moved to the UK before the Second World War - and Mrs Mary Buchanan - a British sociologist. In 1959 the organisation opened a 170 acre property in Sedlescombe, East Sussex to house and educate children from displaced persons camps in Europe at the end of World War II.
In 1963, twenty-two Tibetan students, along with their house parents, arrived at the village. In 1967/68 saw the last of the European students at Pestalozzi and from that point students from Tibet, India and Nepal - amongst other countries - began to arrive. The Tibetan children and their house parents rescued Buddhist thangkas (paintings) and relics from the local temples during the upheavals of the 1960s which are included in this sale. The collection also includes Buddhist figures of deities from China, Burma and Thailand. The funds raised will help Pestalozzi to continue to offer educational scholarships to children from under-privileged countries.

Thangka is not in the best condition with numerous losses to the paint along sort of fold lines, please see images, there is a tear and some losses to the cotton ground to the left of the Buddha's head and then immediately above this area there is a large area of damage and losses between a Buddha and a luohan, the silk mounted borders are heavily freyed and discoloured with things disintegrating rapidly on the borders. the scroll has a turned wooden end on one end and the other end it is lacking and the hanging of the thangka has bunched up at one end.


Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £420