PAUBHA REPRESENTING A CAITYA
NEPAL, XIV-XVTH CENTURY
He represents Buddha Vairocana in a chaitya, sitting on a lotus and flanked by two bodhisattva. His hands are in dharmacakramudra. His face is serene. He is wearing a monastic robe. The chaitya is surrounded by a thousand chaitya miniatures. The lower part is enhanced by two groups of worshipers flanked by three Taras.
Origin
Private collection, Belgium, acquired in 1985
Details
- Title : A FRAMED AND GLAZED RARE PAUBHA DEPICTING A CAITYA
- Classification : Painting
- Dimension : Dimensions of the paubha: 49 x 44 cm. (19¼ x 17¼ in.), Framed under glass
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Period : 14TH/15TH CENTURY
- Collection : Christies
- LOT : 219
- Post Lot Text : A FRAMED AND GLAZED RARE PAUBHA DEPICTING A CAITYA NEPAL, 14TH/15TH CENTURY
- Lot Essay : Just a small number of comparable paintings are known to be so densely packed with stupas or caityas. The rows of minute stupas covering most of the painting likely revere to the Lakshacaitya rite. The donor, here placed in a cartouche on the lower register of the painting, earns spiritual merit by donating hundred thousand (laksha) caityas or stupas. Normally in such paintings the central deity is Ushnishavijaya rather than Buddha making this example a rare exception. The goddess of Long Life is possibly depicted in the centre of the bottom register flanked by a pair of Taras.
- Price realised : EUR 20,000
- Estimate : EUR 8,000 - EUR 12,000
- Provenance : Private collection, Belgium, acquired in 1985