Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings

Tibet

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 253

This chest likely doubled as an altar, placed before a wrathful deity in a protective shrine (gonkhang). Ceremonial utensils, stored inside the chest when not in use, were laid out on the lid during rituals. In the bloody scene on the chest dogs and vultures tear apart the dead, while other demons bear gory offerings, including a large decaying head. The head supports objects related to the five senses (equated with the five desires)—eyes for sight, a damaru drum for sound, a nose for smell, a tongue for taste, and a heart for touch.

Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings, Polychrome wood with iron brackets, Tibet

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Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings, Polychrome wood with iron brackets, Tibet
Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings, Polychrome wood with iron brackets, Tibet
Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings, Polychrome wood with iron brackets, Tibet
Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings, Polychrome wood with iron brackets, Tibet
Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings, Polychrome wood with iron brackets, Tibet

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