Cabinet for Ritual Utensils

18th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 253

This cabinet was designed to house utensils for ritual activity, likely in a chapel where invocations were performed for the protective deities. It is crowned with a frieze of skulls and framed by dancing skeletons. The iron crossbars reinforcing the doors are embellished with heads in various stages of decomposition.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Cabinet for Ritual Utensils
Date: 18th century
Culture: Tibet
Medium: Lacquer and gilding on wood, iron
Dimensions: H. 28 1/16 in. (71.3 cm); W. 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)
Classification: Furniture
Credit Line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
Object Number: 2015.500.4.21
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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From the same time and place

Decorative Fitting from a Crupper Strap, Iron, gold, silver, Eastern Tibetan or Chinese for the Tibetan market — Decorative Fitting from a Crupper Strap
Eastern Tibetan or Chinese for the Tibetan market
17th–18th century

Collector's Cabinet, Iacopo Fiamengo Italian, Ebony, African blackwood, ebonized wood; ivory (engraved and carved) and bone; case: coniferous wood; drawers: beech, coniferous wood, walnut; knobs, lock, hinges: gilt iron with modern bronze paint <br/><br/>Primary woods and materials: ebony, African blackwood, ebonized wood (veneer applied to the back); ivory (engraved and carved); bone (stringing)<br/>Drawer knobs, lock, hinges: gilt iron with modern bronze paint <br/>Secondary woods: <br/>Case: coniferous wood <br/>Drawers: beech, coniferous wood, walnut; stained poplar and coniferous wood used for modern casings of locks, Italian, Naples — Collector's Cabinet
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1595–1600

Buddha Shakyamuni, Brass with colored pigments, Central Tibet — Buddha Shakyamuni
Central Tibet
12th century

Whistling Arrowhead, Iron, gold, Chinese or Tibetan — Whistling Arrowhead
Chinese or Tibetan
17th–18th century

Gong stand, Wood with negoro red lacquer, chased gilt bronze fittings and wrought iron hooks, Japan — Gong stand
Japan

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