Item: ca1243

Sino-Tibetan Gilded Iron Plaques- Seven Flaming Jewels of Royal Power

$2,350

  • Period 18th century
  • Culture Tibet
  • Materials Iron
  • Overall length 9 1/2"
  • Width 1 1/8"

Description

A fine paired set of 18th C. Tibetan gilded iron plaques with Sino- Tibetan designs of dragons centered around the Seven Jewels of Royal Power motif (rgyal srid rin chen sna bdun (LaRocca 2006). These Seven Jewels of Royalty are the: 1. Wheel 2. Jewel 3. Queen 4. Minister 5. Elephant 6. Horse 7. General. These seven possessions are the insignia and symbols of a Universal Monarch.


The plaque appears to have been split at some point but each segment clearly displays identical carving and are mirror images of each other. It is possible this set of iron plaques were made in this purpose specifically to be inset into a book cover or another sacral object.


Fine original condition throughout with detailed carving and gilding.


Reference:

LaRocca, D. (2006)-Warriors of the Himalayas- Rediscovering the Arms and Armor of Tibet