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4. Painted Cabinet Tibet 17th c. wood 33.5" x 10" x 41" |
This highly unusual cabinet has scenes which depict the seven precious possessions of the cakravartin (wheel, jewel, queen, minister, elephant, horse and general): on the left door are depicted the wheel, the queen and elephant, and likely the Cakravrtin (universal Emperor) himself; while on the right door we see the jewels, horse, general and minister. The painting though abraded, reveals the hand of a great artist, likely a thangka painter who decorated fine furniture such as this cabinet "on the side". Detail: Detail of painting - left door |