Hayagriva Thangka Appraisal

Tibetan Thangka Representing a Wrathful Deity (Likely Hayagriva or Mahakala)

This is a framed Tibetan Thangka painting, a traditional Buddhist scroll form typically executed on cotton or silk appliqué. The central figure is a large, wrathful deity depicted in brick-red with three eyes, a flaming crown of skulls, and brandishing a sword, standing in a dynamic 'alidhasana' pose upon a lotus pedestal and trampled figures signifying the ego or obstacles. The deity is surrounded by an intricate aureole of stylized wisdom flames (prabhamandala) in orange and gold. Above the main figure is a celestial row of seven smaller seated Buddhas and deities, while the bottom register features seven smaller dancing protective figures or dakinis. The color palette is rich, utilizing deep mineral pigments of cinnabar red, malachite green, lapis blue, and significant gold leaf detailing for the fine outlines. The piece is professionally mounted with a deep red fabric matting and protected under glass within a contemporary gilded composite or wooden frame. Though the glass creates significant glare, the level of detail—particularly in the scales of the dragon-like elements and the intricate line work of the central figure's jewelry—suggests high-quality craftsmanship characteristic of the late 20th or early 21st century. The condition appears excellent with no visible fading of the pigments or tearing of the substrate, though it has been removed from its original traditional silk brocade mount for modern framing.