Painted Tibetan Side Cabinet - Late 19th Century

This antique Tibetan side cabinet dates to circa 1900. It is painted using traditional methods with stone and mineral pigments. It has three auspicious offering goddesses on the front representing the senses of touch (silk ribbons and scarves), smell and sound (incense flowing from a conch) and vision (a mirror) from left to right.

On the sides, you can see a stylised silk brocade design called kedi in Tibetan. These geometric designs first originated in the twelfth century and copied Chinese brocade patterns - these designs fell out of use after the 19th century. The style and size of this cabinet suggest that it may be been the base of a torgam offering cabinet for holding torma. 

Antique Tibetan furniture is becoming increasingly rare. Our expert team has sensitively restored this piece, cleaning the residue whilst retaining its age and patina.

Dimensions:

91 x 49 x 74 (wxdxh cms)

Further Reading:

For further reading see Auspicious by Design: A Collection of Antique Tibetan Painted Furniture by C Corona and

For a similar cabinet see Wooden Wonders: Tibetan Furniture in Secular and Religious Life by Kamansky - Fig 122.

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

From Tibet

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