Mineral pigments, gold gilding, gesso, iron fittings
Inches: 53.5 (w), 30 (h), 21 (d)
This beautiful and rare double bird trunk is from Sakya in West Tibet. It is in excellent condition and is made from materials and artistry of the highest quality. The preciousness and cost of the materials used indicate that the patron who commissioned this trunk, either for personal or monastery use, was wealthy. This expensive gesture reflected his commitment to Buddhism and symbolically accumulated religious merit.
The vibrancy of the mineral pigments are still evident after more than two centuries. The predominant colours and their typical minerals used are gold, red (cinnabar), blue (azurite) and green (malachite). The organic varnish applied to the completed decoration, derived from resins mixed with drying oil, has protected the surface and colouring with great efficiency.
The central motif of the trunk is a scene of two green Indian parrots guarding a nest of treasure jewels resting on an ornate flower bush.
The parrot generally represents translation, as it can mimic human sounds. A pair of parrots symbolises love, affection and fidelity. The fierce look on the faces of the parrots complements this love and affection with an unswerving duty to protect the contents of the nest.
Precious jewels are common in Tibetan art. They occur as offerings and adornments to deities, and as decorative embellishments on thrones and structures. Their bright colours and shine are representative of celestial light and radiance.
The ornate flower arrangement is likely a stylised bush of chrysanthemum or peony flowers and leaves (generally representing love, compassion and beauty). Dense foliage, and in particular the sinuous and delicate veins of the leaves, represents an abundance of natural wealth and resources.
The outer border of the trunk is decorated with a pattern of flowers and leaves.
Inside the border, decorating the four corners of the trunk (and also inside the floral outer border), is an ornate raised gesso gold gilded patterning of makara-tail scrolls. The makara, or crocodile, is a mythological sea-monster with an elaborate scrolling tail. These scrolls commonly adorn the thrones or throne-backs of seated gurus and lamas.
The raised gesso technique, or 'kyungbur', is an important technique used in Tibetan painted furniture. Ground chalk, resin, sugar, linseed oil and animal glue were mixed together into a thick paste and applied to add a three dimensional pattern to the decoration. Gold gilding has been added to highlight the effect.
As is common with may trunks from the 18th century period, the sides of the trunk are decorated with a simple green border strip enclosing a red rectangle. The backs of trunks are not decorated. The occasional trunk has a red coloured top, but the vast majority are not decorated.
The information contained on this website is given to the best of our knowledge and belief, and after careful examination. All information, except that from reference materials, is copyright of Tibetan Wonders Pte. Ltd., 2007.
Tibetan Wonders Pte. Ltd. is a company registered in Singapore (Company Number: 200714928K)
