Painted Tibetan Tiger Chest From Kham - Ca 1900

This striking interior decorator piece is an antique chest from Kham in Eastern Tibet. This chest is particularly special depicting a tiger and lion flanking a vase heaped with 'jewels of Tibet' symbolising knowledge passed down by the Buddha. It was likely commissioned by a wealthy patron in the circa 1900 as a gift and offering for a temple

Tibetan chests and trunks were used as storage in homes and monasteries. These chests were used in temples or as family altars for storing religious scrolls, silk ceremonial clothes, family jewelry, and yak butter used in lamps.

The colours and designs used in antique Tibetan furniture are very decorative. Much of the design is painted using a kyungbur raised gesso technique found almost exclusively in Tibet. Noticeably, this chest has tiger skin paintings on the sides. Tiger (tak in Tibetan) played an integral part in Tibetan culture and the skin represents the transference of anger into wisdom. This tiger design is another clue to this chest's age as this became more commonplace as tigers were hunted to extinction in much of Asia.

There have been some restorations in China as is evident from the brass Chinese hinges on the lid. This chest has been consolidated and restored in our Wiltshire workshops by skilled conservators to slow down the aging process and preserve this work of art for future generations. 

Dimensions:

144 x 40 x 83 (wxdxh cms)

References:

For a similar example see Wooden Wonders: Tibetan Furniture in Secular and Religious Life by Kamansky (plate 96)

See Tibetan Furniture: Identifying · Appreciating · Collecting by Chris Buckley, (figure 133) for a similar example. 

For further information on Tibetan symbolism, see Tibetan Buddhist Symbols by R Beer. 

From Tibet

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