Tibetan Antiques

Antique Tibetan furniture embodies centuries of spiritual artistry and symbolism, with richly painted surfaces and rare craftsmanship rooted in Himalayan Buddhist culture.

We hold Europe’s largest collection of antique Tibetan furniture, sourced directly from the Himalayan region. Original Tibetan pieces are increasingly rare — each item a reflection of devotion and artistry. Painted with mineral pigments and adorned with sacred Buddhist motifs, our collection includes Tibetan altar cabinets, storage chests, and prayer tables once used in monasteries and private shrines.

Every cabinet and chest tells a story of faith and family heritage — hand-painted with dragons, lotus flowers, and deities using natural pigments. These bijou yet expressive pieces were designed for compact Tibetan homes and temples, making them ideal for contemporary interiors where space and character matter most. We source only authentic antiques; beware of modern reproductions and repainted imitations that lack true age and value.

Tibetan Altar Cabinets (Chagam)

Tibetan altar cabinets, known as chagam, are among the most recognisable forms of Tibetan furniture. Their bold painting depicts Buddhist deities, lotus scrolls, and auspicious symbols, rendered in deep mineral reds and ochres. Originally created from the 18th century onwards, these pieces served as family altars, holding sacred scrolls, ceremonial silks, and yak butter lamps for daily prayer rituals.

Shrine, Offering & Prayer Wheel Cabinets

Elaborate chosum shrine cabinets were built for statues of deities, often with recessed spaces or glass-fronted niches. Torgam offering cabinets display fierce, protective imagery symbolising the offering of obstacles to the divine. Rare prayer wheel cabinets feature rotating drums inscribed with mantras — believed to release prayers with every turn.

Tibetan Painted Storage Chests (Gam)

Tibetan gam chests date back to the 14th century and are prized for their powerful designs and brass-bound forms. Painted with vivid floral, animal, and geometric patterns, these chests once stored religious scrolls, thangka, and ceremonial clothing. Styles range from early sloping-sided and leather-bound examples to later straight-sided chests featuring tray-like lids and bold iron fittings.

Tibetan Tables (Choksar & Pegam)

Tibetan choksar prayer tables and pegam reading desks are distinctive for their folding legs, painted dragon motifs, and richly coloured surfaces. Early pieces date as far back as the 12th century and were used by monks for reading sutras or offering rituals. Smaller, decorative tables remain a hallmark of Tibetan craftsmanship, blending beauty with devotion.

Regional Styles from Eastern Tibet (Kham)

Furniture from the Kham region is typically constructed from heavier woods and painted with bold imagery — tigers, the demon Zeeba, and interlocking key fret borders. These designs show the influence of Qinghai and Gansu province artistry while maintaining Tibet’s distinctive symbolic language.

Tibetan Teapots & Decorative Arts

Our collection also includes antique Tibetan teapots — from early wooden and leather examples with brass fittings to 19th-century copper vessels and 20th-century silvered pieces from Nepal. Once used for serving yak butter tea, these rare works of art now stand as icons of Himalayan domestic culture.

Further Reading

For collectors and enthusiasts wishing to explore the history and symbolism of Tibetan craftsmanship in greater depth, the following works offer invaluable insight:

Chris Buckley, Tibetan Furniture: Identifying, Appreciating, Collecting — a comprehensive guide to regional styles, construction methods, and iconography.

C. Corona, Auspicious by Design — an exploration of auspicious motifs in Himalayan art and furniture design.

Marian Kamansky, Wooden Wonders: Tibetan Furniture in Secular and Religious Life — an in-depth study of the social and ritual contexts of Tibetan furniture.

Robert Beer, Tibetan Buddhist Symbols — an authoritative reference on the sacred symbolism woven through Tibetan art and ornament.