Buddhist Palm Leaf Pancaraksa Manuscript, 12th-15th century, Likely Nepal or Eastern India. Likely an Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita manuscript. Gouache and ink on both sides of 28 palm leafs, each single pierced with both wood covers intact. This rare and excellent example has a painting on nearly every page side, totaling 48 well-painted illustrations of individual figures and one page mounted to wood binder with an illustrations of five separate figures. Each side of the palm leaf pages also has five lines of clear and bold sanscrit. The style of both the calligraphy and the illustrations as well as the material construction are of the 12th-15th style and very likely of that period.
Dimensions::10" x 2"
Property from a former Asian Arts gallery in Manhattan, circa 1940; since passed down through multiple generations of the family.