Tibetan Hand Painted Tsakli Ritual Card

A seated figure glows against red, small as a playing card.

Tibetan painters made this hand painted tsakli ritual card in paper and pigment in the early 19th century. Tsakli are small painted cards, commonly used in sets during Tibetan Buddhist initiations and often showing deities, teachers and sacred symbols. This one shows a figure seated with hands together, set against an orange halo and a saturated red ground. Fine yellow and green accents outline the robes. The card sits in a white mat inside a slim black frame.

Framed, about 18 by 15 inches. A lot of white space for one small blessing.