Old Painted Tibetan Dragon Chest - Ca 1900

This very decorative dragon chest was originally made in at the beginning of 20th century and features an original textured paint finish which was less commonly used and only became prominent around1900. This piece is an excellent example of the high quality Tibetan painting techniques and features a dragon surrounded by Double Dorje (thunderbolt) symbols which represent the four Dhyani Buddhas. The Double Dorje is a symbol of harmony and being actively compassionate to others. 

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 older pieces onto a fabric applied to the wood. The colours and designs used are very decorative.

It has become extremely difficult to find pieces these days and because of this many reproduction pieces are appearing on the market.