A NAKTHANG DEPICTING SHADBHUJA MAHAKALA Tibet, 17th/18th Century

the nakthang heightened with gold, the central figure Mahakala with six arms surrounded by flames, holding a kartrika and kapala with the primary arms, the secondary arms holding a damaru and pasha, the tertiary arms arms holding a flayed elephant skin, khatvanga and skull garland, surmounted by Vajradhara at upper center flanked by Tilopa at left and a Tibetan lama at right holding a manuscript, surrounded by wrathful protectors.

Collection of the late George Tobias, who worked for the Ford Foundation in Delhi from 1965—1973, during which time he built his collection of fine Indian and Himalayan sculpture painting and sculpture. 

Creasing, wear and losses to pigments overall. Minor scattered inpainting. Some areas of pigment loss consolidated on verso. In brocade mount with silks.
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Nakthang or black ground painting originated in Tibet in the fourteenth century and is based on the Indian tantric paradigm of charnal ground ashes used to create black painted surfaces for the depiction of wrathful deities. The current work is a very fine example of nakthang painting, demonstrating the finest quality of heightened gold work and immaculate detailing.   

Six-armed Mahakala is surrounded by a retinue of wrathful deities, as well as other forms of Mahakala. At lower right is Brahmapura, or Mahakala in the form of an Indian sadhu, identifiable by his grey plaited hair and beard. Brahmapura is depicted holding a thigh-bone trumpet and kapala and wearing the six tantric bone ornaments. At bottom center is the protector Ksetrapala riding a bear, wearing a flayed human skin and holding aloft a vajra-tipped kartrika in the right hand and a kapala in the left; and at bottom right is the protectress Palden Lhamo holding a sword in the right hand and a kapala in the left. The protector Begtse with reddish cast appears in fierce chain mail at upper left, wielding a sword in his raised right hand and a human heart in the left; and Mahakala’s primary attendant, Dugon Trakshad, appears upper right holding a khatvanga in the right hand and a kapala in the left. All are depicting in a roiling sea of blood and flames, vibrantly portrayed in red and heightened gold, except for the three figures at upper center, depicted in a heavenly realm with radiant halos amidst peaceful blue clouds. 

Compare a Vajrabhairava nakthang painting from the Manuela and Cleveland Fuller Collection sold Sotheby's New York, March 20, 2013 lot 245.

Himalayan Art Resources item no. 12912