Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Cover of a Bon Book
(India, Nepal, and Tibet)
The Bon religion is considered by some to be the native faith of Tibet, by others a Tibetan adaptation of Buddhism. On the outside (wooden) face, the central figure is probably Tonpa Shenrap, the Buddha-like founder of Bon. The four other deities have the roles of mother, supreme god of wisdom, procreator, and teacher. On the inner (painted) face, there are five figures in Nepalese-type niches who are Bon versions of the five cosmic Buddhas.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Ian Alsop, New York and Santa Fe, by 1989, [mode of acquisition unknown]; John G. and Berthe Ford, Baltimore, 1989, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2024, by gift.
Exhibitions
| 2001-2003 | Desire and Devotion: Art from India, Nepal, and Tibet in the John and Berthe Ford Collection. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara; Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque; Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham; Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong. |
Geographies
Nepal
(Place of Origin)
Tibet (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 9 13/16 × W: 28 1/16 × D: 1 9/16 in. (25 × 71.3 × 4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John and Berthe Ford, given in honor of Kate Burgin, Executive Director and CEO, 2024.
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
2024.30.3