Country Group:

Item id: 8379

"This fine Mongolian appliqué Thangka, likely mid-20th century, is crafted from an extraordinary assortment of antique silks, each with its own distinct weave and pattern. The rich patchwork of textiles gives the image remarkable depth and presence—qualities rarely seen in more recent examples. Pieces of this caliber were available on the market in the 1990s, when this Thangka was acquired, but today nearly all similar works are made with new silk, as the supply of older materials disappeared more than a decade ago.



Though it would benefit from a professional cleaning, it remains a striking and authentic example, often misattributed as 19th century by dealers; in truth, it was created for devotional use during the Soviet period using earlier silk fragments. Now very hard to find, this piece features an inner image measuring 11.5"" x 15"", with an outer textile frame of 26"" x 19""—beautifully proportioned and visually impressive."