Tibet, circa 1880

The finish and paintings on this once brightly decorated cabinet are all old, with a painted design that is typical of Tibetan furniture. The door panels are decorated with lotus flowers in blues, creams, reds and greens, the colours now softened from their original vivid palette to a more subtle look that would fit more easily into a contemporary space.  The lotus flower is an important motif in Tibetan Buddhist as a symbol for rebirth and so is often seen on altar cabinets from the region. The cabinet has two sets of doors set centrally to give access to the full space inside, while the outer panels at either side are fixed. There is a single removable shelf inside. Unsurprisingly given the cabinet’s age and history, there is evidence of earlier repairs, in particular a triangular section at the bottom of the front right leg. One side of the cabinet’s top surface also appears to have been cut at some point so as to be flush with the side frame, while the other still overhangs slightly, adding to cabinet’s quirky character.

This type of cabinet, commonly made from pine or cedar, was typically used in Tibet for storing religious documents, ceremonial robes, and valuable items. They were quite primitive in terms of design and construction, made by and for Buddhist monks, and are now quite rare, particularly those that retain ther original finish and old paintings like this one.