Gilt Painted Tibetan Dragon & Shou Chest - 18thC

Tibetan antique furniture with original painting was always unusual to find but is incredibly difficult to come by. This very decorative dragon chest is one of the best we've found and part of a collection recently acquired by Indigo Antiques. 

This piece is at at least 18^th century and is an excellent example of the high quality Tibetan painting techniques. Painted on fabric laid atop wood and bound with iron, this Tibetan trunk features a writhing gilt dragon amongst leafy lotus sprays surrounded by stylised 'Shou' characters and wan symbols. The front is framed by corner spandrels of entwined scrolls and scrolling lotus sprays. 

Unusually for Tibetan chests, the sides and top of this piece are painted. 

Tibetan chests and trunks were used as storage in homes and monasteries. Boxes are normally made from cedar, pine or poplar. If they are painted it is usually just the front and 2 sides. They can either be painted directly on the wood or on older pieces onto a fabric applied to the wood. The colours and designs used are very decorative.

From Tibet

119.5 x 41.5 x 58.5 (wxdxh cms)

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