A GROUP OF SEVEN TSAKALI THANGKASTibet, 19th century. Distemper and gold paint on cloth. Comprising seven tsakali with white Tara, Palden Lhamo, Mahakala, Yamanthaka among others, four of them with inscriptions to the reverse.Condition: Very good condition, some wear, loose threads, staining, minor creasing, few small losses.Provenance: German private collection.Dimensions: Size 5.6 x 4.1 cm (smallest) to 17.1 x 13.7 cm (largest)Tsakali (initiation cards) were used by a practitioner, usually a monk or nun, under the guidance of a teacher to evoke a Buddhist deity. As these teachers traveled from one monastery to the next, using sets of portable tsakali cards was an efficient way of presenting the vast pantheon of Buddhist gods.