Tibetan Altar, Painted Wood, Dragon Symbols, Late 18th-early 19th century

Tibetan altar, wood, painted, Main decoration of a painted brown dragon on a red background.  All features of the painting contain Tibetan Buddhist symbpls.  The dragon's color, brown represents the autumn equinox, when the dragon is said to descend into a deep pool, encasing itself in mud until  the next spring , when its sprit er-emerges, bringing wealth and health.

Flaming pearls, or jewels clutched in the claws of the dragon represent wisdom and health. The Dragon is one of the Four Dignities, mythical animals which represent various aspects of the Bodhisattva attitude. The Dragon thunders in the sky with the sound of compassion.

Late 18th-early 19th century, signs of age, wear and tear, measures 32 1/2” x 16 1/4” x 36”.