Tibetan Altar Cabinet With Original Painting - 19thC

This beautiful antique Tibetan altar cabinet dates to the middle of the 19^th 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 cabinet comes with four outward opening doors and is split into a top and bottom compartment separated by a shelf. 

From Tibet

157 x 57 x 114 (wxdxh cms)

UK Delivery Charge - except Highlands & Islands £80
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