CIRCA: 1800’s (1700’s?)
This small Tibetan chest is made of wood with leather trim fastened by metal tabs and painted on three of the side panels with a lifelike illustration known as “Mongol Leading A Tiger” (the imagery of which has specific meaning in the Buddhist pantheon; see below*), while the top panel is just of the tiger itself. Off to the side in each panel is a tree with fruit, in the background clouds float in the sky, while in the foreground are piles of the sacred ‘flaming jewel’. As the name implies, It depicts a Mongolian lama or elder leading a tamed tiger and is more often seen on wall paintings in Gelugpa monasteries in Tibet than on Tibetan furniture**. The illustrations on the panels are still remarkably clear – especially those on the sides – even if somewhat surface soiled from years of use, while the chest itself is structurally very sound. (If one so desired the chest could of course be professionally conserved to bring the paintings back to their original glory, but overall this chest has a wonderfully aged patina as is.) Made in the 19th Century or possibly before, it is an uncommon and powerful piece with a significance all its own and in very good condition, especially for its age. ALREADY SOLD.
* With regards the imagery, the Mongolian, the chain and the tiger each represent one of the three great Bodhisattvas; The Mongolian represents Manjushri (the Bodhisattva of wisdom), the chain represents Avalokitesvara (the Bodhisattva of compassion) and the tiger represents Vajrapani (the Bodhisattva of power). (Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have put off entering paradise in order to help others attain enlightenment.) This graphic depiction is also said to have sectarian overtones that represent the supremacy of the Gelugpa (or ‘yellow hat’) school of Tibetan Buddhism over the Nyingma, or old-school ‘red hat’ sect.
**For more information on Tibetan furniture, two books of note are Wooden Wonders edited by David Kamansky, and Tibetan Furniture by Chris Buckley.