A cloth applique thangka of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower, Mongolia, late 19th century, Applique thangka is a particularly Tibetan style. Fragments of colored cloth - most often silks, traditionally imported from china or India - are cut into desired shapes & arranged to form a kind of mosaic. The pieces are either sewn onto a background or to each other. Of Chinese origin, this technique is widely practiced in Tibet, Mongolia & other Himalayan countries. It is known that applique work was initiated by the great King Sontsen Gampo, in the 7th century CE & was later developed into a sacred Art. The main reason for initiating this technique was that it was more durable than the painted thangkas, especially when moved around. At one time it was mainly used as a personal object of meditation. Since embroidered thangkas were costly to produce, they were a rarity & were therefore favored as Imperial tributes and trade goods. Only a wealthy individual or monastery could have afforded to commission them. Provenance: Todd Barlin collection. 61 x 45 cm