A POLYCHROME WOOD ALTAR CABINET, TORGAM, EASTERN TIBET, KHAM REGION, 18TH-19TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A POLYCHROME WOOD ALTAR CABINET, TORGAM, EASTERN TIBET, KHAM REGION, 18TH-19TH CENTURY Finely constructed, the rectangular altar cabinet fitted with a pair of hinged doors opening to reveal seven display niches arranged in two registers. Each niche is framed by cusped arches supported on slender columns rising from vase-form bases, the surrounding panels outlined in gesso with scrolling foliage. The exterior of the doors is richly decorated in gilt and polychrome pigments with highlights in gesso, depicting to the upper register fierce zipak (mythical beast) masks amid dense foliate scrollwork on a red ground. Below, stylized mountain peaks rise above bands of multicolored waves representing the cosmic ocean, divided by a narrow band of cloud work. The whole is enclosed within a dark wood frame with carved lappet borders. Dimensions: Size 93 x 29 x 83.5 cm Please note that the bronze sculptures are not part of this lot. Expert’s note: The decoration of the cabinet reflects the synthesis of Indian and Chinese visual traditions characteristic of Tibetan art. The fierce masks dominating the upper sections of the doors derive from the Indian kirtimukha, or ‘Face of Glory’, an auspicious and protective motif commonly placed above sacred entrances and architectural openings. Adopted into Tibetan art as the zipak, the mask is here enveloped by luxuriant foliate scrollwork, reinforcing its role as a guardian of the sacred images once housed within. The lower register presents stylized mountain peaks rising from bands of multicolored waves, interspersed with cloud and floral ornament. This arrangement, lishui, recalls the highly codified borders of Qing-dynasty court robes, where mountains, waves, and clouds symbolized the ordered cosmos. Their appearance on the cabinet evokes a sacred landscape and suggests the close artistic exchange between Tibet and the Qing imperial workshops. Tibetan cabinets, typically furnished with doors in the front, were used on temple altars to store religious icons. They were also found in the private chapels of wealthy households. From the late 18th century onward, decorative cabinets were also used to store mundane items in monasteries secular houses. Altar cabinets from the Kham region of eastern Tibet, such as this exceptional example attributed to the 18th-19th century, frequently have internal shelves with ornamental arches in the front that form alcoves for displaying icons. They also have ornate doors for protection that are adorned with various apotropaic motifs. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related altar cabinet, dated to the 19th-20th century, 143.51 cm high, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.2010.82.2. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams New York, 11 September 2012, lot 182 Mid-Estimate: USD 12,500 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and decoration. Note the similar size (96.5 cm).

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