A nine-deity mandala of Ushnishavijaya


Tibet or Nepal, 18th/19th century With three faces and eight arms, the deity variously holding a book, a flower, and the vase holding the Elixir of life, surrounded by eight two-armed emanations each seated within a lotus petal, the palace luxuriously decorated and surrounded by flames, all on a background of allegorical, hagiographical scenes, with Amithaba flanked by Shadakshari Lokeshvara and a further four-armed deity at the top, a Mahakala at the centre bottom between two rows of precants and offerings, all above a long inscription, Chinese silk mounts.85.5cm (33 5/8in) x 62cm (24 3/8in)