Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 24. (Budapest, 2006)
Béla KELÉNYI: Two Trunks from London. Hungarian aspects of the 'discovery' of Nepalese art
inlay executed in turquoise. Filigree fittings depicting the Three Jewels and KTrtimukha heads are affixed to its sides, which are decorated with flower and scroll motifs. The finish of the box's indented corners is also worthy of attention; among the plants and animals in relief, the gilded figure of a dancing woman can be seen. (111. 17) The donation also included a pair of Tibetan wooden book-covers (Tib.: glegs shing). Their style is characteristic of types made in the 14 lh /15"' century, when Newar masters exerted particularly significant influence in Tibet. 72 (111. 18) On the upper part, in a strip framed with string of pearls, bodhisattvas representing three Buddha families (Tib.: rigs gsum) can be seen among the richly carved floral embellishments. In the middle, on a throne, is the four-handed Sadaksari Lokesvara, with Manjusri and Vajrapäni on lotus thrones to either side of him. The Indian-style throne (Skrt.: torana),, 73 which traditionally consists of six parts (Tib. rgyan drug rgyab yol), is especially characteristic of the Newar style at this time. The fine depiction is well exemplified by the two deer looking at each other on either side of the central figure; they represent the discourse given by Säkyamuni Buddha in Samath. Originally, the outer part of the string of pearls was decorated with drawings of lotus leaves on a ground painted red. Commonly, on the lower part of book-covers a treasure vase (Tib.: g ter gyi bum pa), a symbol of good fortune, is depicted. 74 As for this artefact, the vase is decorated with scrolls arching out on either side and with a lotus flower in the middle; the outer part of the string of pearls is also painted. Especially worthy of attention is the Säkyamuni figure among the ornamental scrolls on the outer border of the upper cover and the stupa depicted on the border of the lower cover. Along with the book originally between them, they represent the Enlightened Body, Speech and Mind (Tib.: sku gsung thugs rten). APPENDIX The Inscriptions on the Statuettes Transcribed, translated and interpreted by György Zentai The offering inscriptions written on the plinths of the statuettes analysed above display a unique, albeit not widespread, characteristic of Newar art that is very rare in Newar-related Tibetan art. 75 At the same time, similar inscriptions can be seen not only on statuettes, but also on other works of art, namely on stüpas, painted scrolls (New.: paubha) and even on jewellery. I. THE STRUCTURE OF THE TEXTS As far as their content is concerned, the inscriptions on the statuettes - single sentences and detailed descriptions alike - are quite uniform; as a rule, they have three main parts. 76 A. Identification of time The first part of the texts indicates the date of the religious event that gave occasion for the making of the statue. Sometimes it is preceded by the 'good fortune' (New.: sreyostu) formula, 77 the sacred om syllable and a homage to the deity depicted (om namah...). The date includes the year (sariivat, the abbreviated form of the Sanskrit samvatsara), frequently the month and the day (i.e. the calendar month and the day of the week); in addition, it mentions whether the offering was made in the dark (Skrt.: krsna) or the light (Skrt.: sukla), 1 *and the part of the lunar month in which it was made. In certain cases, it gives information on the prevailing constellations also. Although after the Shah dynasty came into power (1769). the Nepalese counted years on the basis of the Indian Vikrama calendar, the Newars tended to continue to use the so-called Nepalese calendar, whose first year is equivalent to 879/880 A. D. 7 '' However, instead of the Newari names of the months, they exclusively used variant forms of the Sanskrit names of the months in the Vikrama calendar. B. Customers) As the inscriptions themselves attest, the offering of the works of art was invariably related to some kind of religious ceremony or action. This could be some important action, usually rites of Hindu origin (Skrt.: saihskära) that had been adopted by the Newars, pilgrimages or major religious ceremonies), or an occasional act that helped the offering person to augment his merits and thus assure a better life and an auspicious rebirth."" At the
