Lot 168, Auction 4/20/2026: 19th C. Tibetan Thangka – Eleven-Headed Avalokiteshvara

$975.00

In stock

Central Asia, Tibet, ca. 19th century CE. A luminous 19th century Tibetan thangka portraying the Eleven-Headed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, rendered with reverence and intricate symbolic precision. Avalokiteshvara stands tall upon a lotus pedestal, enveloped in an aureole of divine radiance, his eleven serene faces rising in tiers that ascend from tranquil white to wrathful red and blue – each representing a distinct aspect of enlightened awareness. The deity’s thousand arms radiate outward in perfect symmetry, each hand bearing an eye, a symbol of omniscient compassion seeing the suffering of all beings. His uppermost hands are joined in anjali mudra, holding a precious blue gem at his heart, while others form gestures of protection and generosity. Size of thangka: 18.5″ W x 26″ H (47 cm x 66 cm); of matte / plexiglass: 25″ W x 32.75″ H (63.5 cm x 83.2 cm)

Draped in flowing robes of soft green and crimson, Avalokiteshvara wears delicate jewelry and a pelt of antelope skin – a symbol of gentleness and sacrifice – across his shoulders, all meticulously detailed in the painter’s careful linework. Surrounding the central figure are smaller Buddhas and deities, each poised upon lotus thrones and set against radiant halos of green, red, and gold. These celestial attendants complete the cosmic harmony of the composition, where divine compassion unfolds in every color and curve. This thangka embodies Avalokiteshvara’s eternal vow to forgo personal enlightenment until all sentient beings are liberated from suffering – a visual hymn to selfless compassion, its grace and symmetry preserving the devotional spirit of Tibetan Buddhist art.

Condition: Mounted behind plexiglass in custom matte and backing; has not been examined outside of glass. Some creases folds and rubbing to thangka with minor losses of pigment and possible retouching in areas. Otherwise, thangka is very nice with bright pigments and clear imagery. Small losses to bottom corners of plexiglass; none of which affect thangka.

Provenance: private Anahola, Hawaii, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 1990s

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