Untitled

Unknown

16th–17th century · Polychrome and gold on wood · Asian Art

Carved deeply into these wooden manuscript covers are three shrine-niches occupied by multiarmed tantric female deities wielding an array of ritual utensils and weapons. They are flanked by kneeling donor figures (above) and by Ganesha and a gana (below). This type of cover would have protected a paper manuscript, presumably one devoted to a Tantric Hindu text.

Artist

Unknown

Date

16th–17th century

Medium

Polychrome and gold on wood

Culture

Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Eisenberg, 1981