Tibetan Hand Painted Tsakli Ritual Card

Blue coils and petals crowd a small red square.

Painted by Tibetan hands in the early 19th century, this tsakli ritual card is made of paper and pigment. Tsakli are often used in sets for Tibetan Buddhist empowerment rites and may show deities, symbols or offerings. At the center is a rounded cluster of blue, white and black forms, with curling lines beneath, all set within a red field. The color is dense and the edges are slightly worn. A wide white mat and black frame surround it.

Overall about 18 by 15 inches. Brilliant color, kept in a quiet room.