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UK CABINET
4
:
Code EC30
pegam cabinet
Central Tibet
19th
Century
33x82 height 86cm
click image for detail
This type of cabinet would have been used to hold the long, loose-leaved Tibetan books, called pe-cha, in Tibetan. There are three almost square drawers above with one opening door and two fixed panels below. The door is decorated with a central lotus blossom supporting a flaming jewel and other lotus blossoms admist foliage. The background here and on the other panels and frame consists of dots executed with the raised gesso technique, known as kyung-bur, in Tibetan. The design on the other panels consists of bilva fruit within a trellis pattern, known as kati rimo, which was a popular design on Ming brocades. The leaf pattern on the frames is also known as the "rice grain" design and shows the Newar influence from the Kathmandu Valley.
The figure on the scalloped back section is a chepak or zipak, also know as the "kirtimukha" or face of majesty, fame or glory. This ancient symbol is found, as guardians of doorways, across the Indian Sub continent, South East Asia and China. It is represented as a ferocious animal head, and his face bears a strong resemblance to both the lion and dragon, with curling horns, mane and snout. Only the hands and the head are represented. He is shown here with a single large jewel in his hair and is surrounded by foliage. The sides are plain.
