Ensemble de huit bois d'impression rectangulaires Chine, dynastie Qing, époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

les plaques couvertes d'images de divinités et d'inscriptions en caractères chinois, mongols et manchus de gauche à droite et de haut en bas :
plaque 1 : Vajrabhairava et Guhyasamaja
plaque 2 : Avalokitesvara Shadakshari et Tara Shyama
plaque 3 : Amitayus Nirmanakaya et Bouddha Rudrarupa
plaque 4 : Mahakala Natha encadré par Mahakala Takshad et Takkiraja à gauche, Jiramita et Ksetrapala monté sur un sanglier à droite
plaque 5 : Remati encadré par Hemanta-rajni, la déesse de l'hiver et Sarad-rajni, la déesse de l'automne à gauche et à droite par Varsa-rajni, la déesse de la pluie et Vasanta-rajni, la déesse du printemps 
plaque 6 : Vaishravana encadré par Jambhala Kala et Satakratu sur son éléphant à gauche et à droite par Jambhala Pita et Brahma sur son oie à droite
plaques 7 et 8 : textes en caractères chinois traduisant le Kanjur mongol
craquelures et petits accidents

From top to bottom, left column : the first woodcut with 7cm crack and an 8 cm chip along the top edge (showing on the catalogue illustration), another small crack to the lower left corner ; the second woodcut with a shallow 7cm to the upper edge and some light wear to the surface otherwise is good ; the third with 2cm chip to the right edge and a 5mm chip to the carved frame (visible on the photo in the catalogue), another 3.5 cm chip to the upper right corner and a tiny nick to the frame on the upper left but overall good. The fourth has a 10cm chip to the upper edge, another 3cm at the upper left and another small to the lower right corner, another 5.5 cm to the centre of lower edge and a 4.5 cm to the lower left corner (all showing on the photo in the catalogue), a 1.5 cm chip to the carved frame around the characters inside, otherwise in good condition. Right column : the first with a 7cm shallow chip to the top edge (showing on the illustration), some light wear to the surface but otherwise in good condition ; the second with 3 opening horizontal age cracks to the right edge ; some smaller age crack to the left age (approximately 2.5 cm) a 1.5 cm chip to the lower left corner, a 3.5 cm chip to the lower right corner visible on the illustration in the catalogue ; the third one along the right edge the third woodcut with wood worms on the surface and light wear ; the last woodcut with a 17cm age crack to the left, a 9 cm chip to the upper right edge, a 2.5 cm chip to the lower right edge and two age cracks to the right edge (3 and 3.5cm)
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

These are part of a very rare set of woodblocks made to print the Mongolian Kanjur (sacred texts). Under imperial order of Kangxi the ancient Mongolian Kanjur was revised to some 756 illustrated deities with accompanying text, and cut into woodblocks and printed between 1717-1720. In vol. 108 (fol. 23a) of this edition it was stated "... the Mongolian Kanjur would not spread much were it not printed." Lokesh Chandra, Buddhist Iconography, New Delhi, 1991, pp. 8-9

Our woodblocks are presumably part of a later version of this Kangxi "Imperial Red edition", probably done during the reign of Qianlong under the instructions of Changkya Rolpai Dorje (1717-1786), the Tibetan Imperial preceptor who oversaw the founding of the Yonghegong, an imperial monastic college for Mongol, Manchu and Chinese monks. Rolpai Dorje was instrumental in the further development of the Tibeto-Mongolian iconographic systems used in China.