ticketsMember | Make a donation

Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings

late 19th century
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Chest with Scenes of Tantric Offerings
  • Date: late 19th century
  • Culture: Tibet
  • Medium: Polychrome wood with iron brackets
  • Dimensions: H. 30 in. (76.2 cm); W. 51 1/2 in. (130.8 cm); D. 24 3/8 in. (61.9 cm)
  • Classification: Furniture
  • Credit Line: Gift of Steven Kossak, The Kronos Collections, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2022
  • Object Number: 2022.431.1
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Pair of Butter Lamps, Gilt silver with repoussé and engraving, Central Tibet
Pair of Butter Lamps
Central Tibet
19th century
Vase in Meiping Shape, Porcelain with iron-red glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China
Vase in Meiping Shape
China
19th century
Foliated dish with flowers and fruits, Wan Yannian Chinese, Painted enamel on copper alloy, China
Foliated dish with flowers and fruits
Wan Yannian
19th century
Wall panel with stone paintings, Hardwood with veined marble and brass fittings, China
Wall panel with stone paintings
China
19th century
Fragment from sample set of Chinese cloisonné, Cloisonné enamel, copper alloy, glass, China
Fragment from sample set of Chinese cloisonné
China
late 19th century

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.