Description:

CITIPATI - THE GUARDIANS OF THE CHARNEL HOUSES
Tibet, 17th c.
56 x 47 (78 x 68) cm R.
Out of the darkness of the night of the charnel houses, where yogis meditate on impermanence, two lime-white dancing skeletons emerge, surrounded by smoke and fire. They perform the dance of death's eternal return and the awareness of the emptiness of all appearances. They are a pair, for they embody the male and female parts of the human body. According to a legend, two ascetics were meditating in a corpse field and did not notice an approaching thief. The thief cut off their heads and threw them into the dirt. Afterwards, they attained a higher level of consciousness. The male part of the two skeletons swore revenge on the thief. Since then, both are protectors against thieves and criminals. Both Citipati hold clubs with skulls in their right hands, and skull bowls with blood in their left hands. They are both emanations of the powerful protector Mahakala. Citipati also protect the meditator from obstructive influences when meditating on the Dakini Vajrayogini, which is located immediately above the representations of the two skeletons. This is probably the main theme of this painting, as numerous clergy are gathered around the dancing couple, under the patronage of the dakini. Her title "Dakini of all Buddhas" distinguishes her as the essence of the wisdom and being of all five Tathagata Buddhas. Jamyang Khyentse (1820-1892) calls her: "The being of Prajnaparamita, the mother who brought forth all the Buddhas". According to the descriptions in the sadhana texts, she is said to be visualised as a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl, with lust-filled full breasts. The goddess is red in colour and radiates a glow like fire. Her black hair falls open to her waist. With her head turned to the left, she looks upwards into the empty sky. With her left hand she raises a skull bowl filled with the blood of the four maras to her mouth, while with her right she reaches down with a cleaver to cut off "all the faults of samsara", such as pride and others. Over her left shoulder she carries a khatvanga staff, indicating her constant union with her secret Heruka partner. Bone ornaments cover her body and a garland of fifty-one dry human heads hangs around her neck. On her head she wears the fivefold crown of skulls, a symbol of the dharmakaya aspect of the Five Tathagatas. The dakini stands in the alidha posture in the midst of a glowing wisdom fire on a lotus, and stands with both feet above the red goddess Kalaratri and the black Bhairava. Both are Hindu gods who have been conquered through Buddhist tantra. According to the inner meaning, they symbolise the overcoming of selfishness and attachment. Or, to speak in the words of Jamyang Khyentze calls it: "The essence of Prajnaparamita, the mother,dialle Buddha She does not adhere to the idea of an ego or an object. This painting shows in the lower section numerous offerings (tib. kang dzä) to the two deities, such as skull bowls with different substances, cloth balls, musical instruments, weapons, and so on. Black dyed cotton fabric, pigments; (tib. nag thang - black-ground painting).
Old European private collection, assembled before 2007 - Wear, minor damages due to age

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do not offer inhouse packing and shipping services.

We are pleased to provide you with the following list of transport companies, which we can recommend based on many years of good experience and a longstanding cooperation. We kindly ask you to contact the companies directly to negotiate the terms of costs, insurance and the organization of the transport.

Export to countries outside the EU are subject to the restrictions of the UNESCO convention from 1970 and the European Agreement for the Protection of Cultural Heritage from 1993. Moreover, the cites regulations are applicable. Objects with materials such as ivory or tortoise shell require a permission for export into countries outside the EU contract area due to cites regulations. We point out that such a permission is usually not given. For exports within the EU the Act to Protect German Cultural Property against Removal (Kulturgutschutzgesetz) has been in force since 6th August 2016.


China/Asia

Eric Art Services
Beijing/Shanghai/Hong Kong et al.
Tel.: +86 10 8880 3001 (BJ)
Tel.: +86 21 3103 2707 (SH)
Tel.: +852 2204 1888 (HK)
E-Mail: [email protected]


International

Mailboxes etc. / MBE
Silke Klink & Marco Bittner
Friedrich-List-Str. 8
70771 Leinfelden-Echterdingen
Tel.: +49 (0) 711 / 41170270
E-Mail: [email protected]

Otrans Transport GmbH
Pass-Thurn-Straße 25
AT-6372 Oberndorf/Kitzbühel
Tel.: +43 5356 6950-0
E-Mail: [email protected]


Italy

Chiarelli Autotrasporti s.r.l.
Via S. Francesco d'Assisi 5
ITA-36063 MAROSTICA (VI)
Tel.: +39 04 24 / 78 06 50
E-Mail: [email protected]


France

Art Régie Transport.com
9, boulevard Biron
FRA-93400 Saint-Ouen
Tel.: +33 (0) 1 / 58 61 37 33
E-Mail: [email protected]


Switzerland

Kraft E.L.S. AG
Exhibition Logistics Services
Florenz-Str. 5-9
CH-4142 Münchenstein
Tel.: +41 (0) 61 / 33 79 230
E-Mail: [email protected]


Germany/Europe

Matthias Fegers
Service für Kunst und Handel
Moldenweg 5
21339 Lüneburg
Tel.: +49 (0) 4131 / 727525
E-Mail: [email protected]

A.V.M. Service und Transporte
Alexander von Mertens
Römerstr. 32
70180 Stuttgart
Tel.: 0172 / 71 36 254
Fax: 0711 / 6456-031
E-Mail: [email protected]

ART to move
Beuth & Esser GbR
Melchiorstr. 29
50670 Köln

December 7, 2023 9:30 AM CET
Stuttgart, Germany

Nagel Auction

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 32.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
0 € 19 € 5 €
20 € 179 € 10 €
180 € 299 € 20 €
300 € 359 € 30 €
360 € 399 € 40 €
400 € 899 € 50 €
900 € 999 € 100 €
1.000 € 1.999 € 100 €
2.000 € 2.999 € 200 €
3.000 € 3.599 € 300 €
3.600 € 3.999 € 400 €
4.000 € 9.999 € 500 €
10.000 € 19.999 € 1.000 €
20.000 € 29.999 € 2.000 €
30.000 € 35.999 € 3.000 €
36.000 € 39.999 € 4.000 €
40.000 € 99.999 € 5.000 €
100.000 € 199.999 € 10.000 €
200.000 € + 20.000 €