Painted Tibetan Altar Cabinet - 18th Century

This beautiful antique Tibetan altar cabinet dates to the middle of the 19th century. The top frames the cabinet with a repeating 'key fret' design which is characteristic of Eastern Tibetan furniture where there was a stronger Chinese cultural influence. The style of the floral design also has clear Chinese influences - unsurprising as Chinese emperors sponsored Tibetan religion since the Yuan dynasty (1271€“1368 AD). The flowers seen in each of the yellow panels are lotus flowers, an auspicious symbol of purity and enlightenment from mundane existence. All of these yellow panels are framed by raised geometric gesso designs known in Tibet as kyung bur which is exclusively found in Tibet.

These cabinets were often used in temples or as family altars & were used to store religious scrolls, silk ceremonial clothes, family jewelry and yak butter used in lamps. Often people would gift painted furniture to temples as offerings.

This style excellent of Tibetan cabinet is mostly seen in the late 18th and early 19th century when the cabinet first became more prominent in Tibet. Prior to this, chests were the most common form of furniture in Tibet. Cabinets like this were constructed from cedar or pine and painted using mineral pigments. They were often used as family altars & were used to store religious scrolls, silk ceremonial clothes, family jewelry, and yak butter used in lamps.

Original antique Tibetan cabinets are now very rare and there are many reproduction pieces made in China coming onto the market.

This cabinet has four outward opening doors and is split into a top and bottom compartment separated by a shelf. 

Dimensions:

105 x 43 x 98 (wxdxh cms)

From Tibet

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