Equestrian Equipment Made for Yuthok Tashi Dundrup (g.yu thog bkra shis don grub, 1906–1983)
Like the Surkhang saddle also in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 2005.427.1), this example demonstrates that the long tradition of finely made and ornately decorated ceremonial saddles flourished in Tibet until the mid-twentieth century. This saddle is distinguished by elaborate mounts of intricately modeled gilt copper set with turquoise. It was made in Derge (in present-day Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China), famous for centuries for its metalwork. It is rare and important as a fine example of high-quality, late Derge metalwork made for a known patron: the Tibetan nobleman Yuthok Tashi Dundrup (1906–1983) commissioned the saddle and tack when he served in the post of govornor of Eastern Tibet between 1943 and 1947.
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