wearing an orange pandita cap with long lappets and monk’s attire, holding vajra and kapala with a khatvanga at the shoulder, a pitaka basket and kalasha to his left and bilva fruit in a lapis lazuli bowl before him, seated on cushions within a golden cave, with blue Buddha Samantabhadra above flanked by Oddiyana Vajradhara to the left and Pema Jungne to the right, the pandita flanked by Loden Chogse to the left and Pema Gyalpo to the right, with Longchempa and Tenzin Legpé Dondrup to the left and right beneath Padmasambhava, and Nyima Ozer, Sengge Dradog, Dorje Drolo and Shakya Sengge from left to right below, all set in mountainous landscape with the twelve protector goddesses including the Four Great Demons, the Four Great Yakshis and the Four Great Menmos appearing throughout, adepts meditating in caves and a lama flying above Himalayan Art Resources item no. 18350.

In good condition overall with no restoration. Diagonal and horizontal creasing to the lower third of painting, visible in the catalogue illustration. Vertical creasing in blue halo in the pandita. Minor areas of water damage overall. Significant losses to the blue in the sky. Accretion and spots of organic waster throughout.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This rare thangka is painted with great finesse and masterful use of colour. A golden glow emanates from the caves inhabited by Samantabhadra, the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava and the Tibetan masters below. The unusual composition of densely packed blue and green gold-edged mountains is filled with minute detail: adepts meditate in caves, birds perch on rocks, protector deities ride through the landscape, a monk flies out of his meditation cave above. The inclusion of the Bhutanese Nyingma lama Tenzin Legpé Dondrup (1645-1726), the second Gangten Tulku, shown seated directly below Padmasambhava, suggests that this unusual and exceptionally fine painting might be from Bhutan.