작품 상세

Dimensions: Height 8,5 cm Wide 33 cm Depth 1,5 cm each Weight: 2444 grams with base This finely worked pair of Tibetan manuscript book covers is carved from dense hardwood and originally served to protect a loose-leaf Buddhist manuscript. Each board is rectangular in format with a raised central panel framed by a plain border, the surfaces retaining rich traces of red pigment and gilt decoration. One cover is centered by a horizontal register of eight seated Buddhas, each shown in meditation posture within a lobed mandorla. The figures are rendered in low relief with calm, symmetrical features and subtle modeling of the robes, emphasizing rhythmic repetition rather than individualization. The alternating hand gestures and the orderly sequence suggest a contemplative program aligned with Buddhist doctrinal imagery, likely intended to sanctify and protect the sacred text once enclosed within. The companion cover is decorated with a geometric band of diamond-shaped cartouches, each enclosing stylized floral and lotus motifs highlighted with gilding. This abstract, ornamental design provides a visual counterbalance to the figural panel, reflecting the Tibetan preference for combining symbolic imagery with formal patterning. The reverse sides show wear, patina, and handling marks consistent with prolonged ritual and monastic use. The overall surface displays age-appropriate abrasion, minor losses to pigment, and softened carving edges, contributing to a warm, historic character. Such carved wooden book covers were essential components of Tibetan Buddhist textual culture, protecting sacred manuscripts while simultaneously acting as devotional objects in their own right. This pair is a strong example of 16th-century Tibetan book arts, combining restrained figural carving, symbolic ornament, and surviving polychromy into a coherent and visually balanced ensemble.

재료

Wood