Manuscript cover, polychromed wood, Tibet, 14th century.

This upper cover from a Buddhist manuscript has four images of the deities, each seated on a lotus: Buddha Sakyamuni, the goddess Prajnaparamita, the bodhisattva Manjusri and his spiritual mentor, Aksobhya. They are surrounded by a pearl border. The figures with their narrow waists and broad chests, and the use of the distinctive three-pointed crown are close in style to those of western Tibet and Ladakh.

Purchased from the dealer Imre Schwaiger, Esq.

This was part of a collection of Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan art objects that was purchased in 1913 from Imre Leonard Schwaiger was a well-respected London and Delhi-based dealer in gems, jewellery and eastern works of art. He was of Hungarian descent and, as a young man, he travelled to India where he became expert in appraising them, later becoming the foremost dealer and agent in such objects.
He built up a list of important clients and was friends with Jacques Cartier, looking after Cartier's interests in Delhi and acting as the company's agent in the purchase of gems, jewellery and objets d'art. Schwaiger was also responsible for introducing Cartier to all of the maharajas and other royals during his visit to India for the Dehi Durbar in 1911.
Imre Schwaiger developed a close working relationship with both the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum, assisting them with a number of acquisitions. He also generously donated a number of valuable objects to both institutions.

Purchased from the dealer Imre Schwaiger, Esq., 39, Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

RP 1912-3057M

This upper cover from a Buddhist manuscript has four images of deities, each seated on a lotus (padmasana) : The Buddha Sakyamuni, the goddess Prajnaparamita, the bodhisattva Manjusri and his spiritual mentor, Aksobhya. They are surrounded by a pearl border. The figures, with their narrow waists and full chests, and the use of the distinctive three-pointed crown, are close in style to those of western Tibet and Ladakh, the latter a region whuch strongly influenced the early Tibetan painting styles. This cover was collected by the British expedition to Lhasa in 1904.

This is the upper bookcover from a pair which once contained within them a volume of the Kangyur or canonical scripture of Tibetan Buddhism. The text in question is indicated by the representation on the cover of Prajnaparamita (second figure from left), the goddess who personifies "The Perfection of Wisdom", which is of central importance to Tibetan Buddhism.

IM.180-1913