Saptadashashirshi Shri Devi

Object Details

• Label

  Lhamo, the protective deity of Lhasa, the capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Tibet, is one of a potent group of eight protectors of the Buddhist faith. She is also the patron deity of the Dalai Lama and all followers of the Gelukpa, or Yellow Hat, sect.

  The sculpture captures the vivacity and ferocity of Lhamo, whose three eyes are said to flash like lightning and whose eyebrows blaze like fire. Seated astride her wild donkey mount, she brandishes her sword over the heads of enemies. Surrounding her are nineteen attendant deities riding a variety of bird and animal mounts. This gilt-copper plaque was originally part of the decoration of the base of a funerary stupa at the renowned Densatil monastery in central Tibet.

• Provenance

  15th century-before 1965

  Densatil monastery, Central Tibet [1]

  After 1965-at least 1995

  Ownership information unknown

  At least 1995-1997

  John Eskenazi Ltd. (established 1994), London, England, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1997

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from John Eskenazi Ltd. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See acquisition proposal titled “Goddess Lhamo,” undated (ca. February 1997), copy in object file. This object was once part of a horizontal frieze on a stupa at the Densatil monastery, a Buddhist monastery in Central Tibet. The monastery was destroyed in the 1960s during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1965-1979).

  [2] See “Images of Faith: 25 May-23rd June 1995” (cover title: “Inaugural Exhibition”) [sale catalogue], (London: John Eskenazi Ltd., 1995), p. 6, cat. 27, not illustrated. Object is described as, “27. Lhamo [/] Central Tibet [/] Densatil (gDan.sa.mthil) monastery [/] Early 15th century [/] Gilt copper [/] Height 60 cm.”

  See also “Incoming Receipt,” dated February 5, 1997, copy in object file. Object is described as “Lhamo, central Tibet.” The sculpture was transferred from John Eskenazi Ltd. to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for acquisition consideration on February 5, 1997.

  See also invoice from John Eskenazi Ltd., issued by John Eskenazi, dated April 23, 1997, copy in object file. Object is described as “Lhamo [/] Densatil (gDan sa mthil) monastery [/] Central Tibet (dBus) [/] Early 15th century [/] Gilt copper [/] Height 60 cm.”

  John Eskenazi Ltd. in London, England was established in 1994 and specializes in the sale of Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art, as well as carpets and textiles. John Eskenazi Ltd. has also exhibited at art fairs including The International Asian Art Fair in New York and TEFAF Maastricht. Clients have included private collectors and institutions such as, The Art Institute of Chicago; Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore; British Museum, London; Cleveland Museum of Art; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Musée du Louvre, Paris; Musée Guimet, Paris; and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

  [3] See Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, “Acquisition Consideration Form - Purchase,” approved on March 3, 1997, copy in object file. From 1997-2023, the work was part of the National Museum of Asian Art’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection and on March 21, 2023, the work was internally transferred to the National Museum of Asian Art Collection.

  Research updated May 13, 2024

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Golden Visions of Densatil: A Tibetan Buddhist Monastery (February 9 to May 18, 2014)

  Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art (March 16 to June 20, 2010)

  Devi: The Great Goddess (March 28 to September 6, 1999)

  Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas (May 4, 1988 to July 9, 2017)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Densatil monastery (established 1158)

  John Eskenazi Ltd. (established 1994)

• Origin

  Densatil Monastery, Central Tibet

• Credit Line

  Purchase -- funds provided by the Friends of Asian Arts in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s

• Name

  Densatil monastery, Eskenazi

• Place

  Densatil Monastery, Tibet

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Cats, Art, Animals, Donkey, Swords, Makara, Lhamo, Skull, Snakes

• Culture

  Buddhists, Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Sculpture