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  • Tibetan Painted Altar Cabinet - Ca 1900

    Tibetan Painted Altar Cabinet -  Ca 1900

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    Roll over image to zoom in

    Trade & Wholesale

    Our origins are in wholesale, so from movies to restaurants, retailers to architects, we have a long history of supplying our trade clients with unusual and unique oriental furniture & decorative art. 

    Whether purchasing for resale or buying on behalf of a client, we offer trade discount pricing to:


  • Retail Stores
  • Interior Designers
  • Film & Photo Studios
  • Architects
  • Event Producers

  • For all trade and wholesale enquiries please email us with your contact and business name, company registration number & VAT number (if applicable) to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Prop Hire

    Looking for that one off iconic piece for an event or requiring props for a filming or a photography shoot? You will have seen our oriental antique furniture & decorative art in the James Bond films, The Golden Compass and many others.


    For all prop hire enquiries please send emails to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Tibetan Painted Altar Cabinet - Ca 1900

    SKU:M821

    £2,250

    This painted cabinet is from Central Tibet and dates to the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century - circa 1900. All hand painted using mineral pigments, the central panels feature some of the 'Eight Auspicious Substances' flanked by vases of flowers. 

     

    Top left: The Mirror (me-long) represents sight and being able to see one's self clearly. In Buddhism, the mirror is the symbol of emptiness & pure consciousness reflecting all objects impartially. 

    Top right: Mustard Seed (yungs-'bru) was common in Tibet at the time of Buddha and used to produce cooking oil & lamp oil. It's often considered to be a wrathful substance used against negatives and demons. 

    Bottom left: Durva Grass (rtsva dur-ba) is known in The West as Bermuda grass (capriola dactylon). It's often used to create a finger ring worn by Vedic priests in rituals representing the sacred knot of Vishnu.

    Bottom right:  Vermillion Powder (li-khri) is a symbol of joy & prosperity and its red colour is a symbol of power. 

    The lower two panels depict phoenixes flanking a central panel of cintamani (wish-granting jewels). The four central panels open to reveal a large interior space for storage.

     

    Tibetan altar cabinets became more prominently used in Tibet from the 19th century onwards - Prior to this, chests were the most common form of furniture in Tibet. Cabinets like this were constructed from cedar or pine and painted using mineral pigments. They were often used as family altars & were used to store religious scrolls, silk ceremonial clothes, family jewelry, and yak butter used in lamps. Often people would gift painted furniture to temples as offerings.

    Original antique Tibetan cabinets are now very rare and there were many reproduction pieces made in China in the 1980's coming onto the market. 

     

    For further information on Tibetan symbolism, see Tibetan Buddhist Symbols by R Beer. 

     

     

    From Tibet

    UK Delivery Charge - except Highlands & Islands £40
    More delivery options available at checkout

    Dimensions: W118 x D52 x H95.5 cm

    Dimensions: W118 x D52 x H95.5 cm


    £2,250
    0
    0

    Free UK Delivery on orders over £250 

    Use code 'Delivery' at checkout

    In Stock - In Our Wiltshire Showroom


    Free UK Delivery on orders over £250 

    Use code 'Delivery' at checkout*

    In Stock - In Our Wiltshire Showroom

    Shipping & Warranty

    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    *Free delivery cannot be combined with other offers

    This painted cabinet is from Central Tibet and dates to the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century - circa 1900. All hand painted using mineral pigments, the central panels feature some of the 'Eight Auspicious Substances' flanked by vases of flowers. 

     

    Top left: The Mirror (me-long) represents sight and being able to see one's self clearly. In Buddhism, the mirror is the symbol of emptiness & pure consciousness reflecting all objects impartially. 

    Top right: Mustard Seed (yungs-'bru) was common in Tibet at the time of Buddha and used to produce cooking oil & lamp oil. It's often considered to be a wrathful substance used against negatives and demons. 

    Bottom left: Durva Grass (rtsva dur-ba) is known in The West as Bermuda grass (capriola dactylon). It's often used to create a finger ring worn by Vedic priests in rituals representing the sacred knot of Vishnu.

    Bottom right:  Vermillion Powder (li-khri) is a symbol of joy & prosperity and its red colour is a symbol of power. 

    The lower two panels depict phoenixes flanking a central panel of cintamani (wish-granting jewels). The four central panels open to reveal a large interior space for storage.

     

    Tibetan altar cabinets became more prominently used in Tibet from the 19th century onwards - Prior to this, chests were the most common form of furniture in Tibet. Cabinets like this were constructed from cedar or pine and painted using mineral pigments. They were often used as family altars & were used to store religious scrolls, silk ceremonial clothes, family jewelry, and yak butter used in lamps. Often people would gift painted furniture to temples as offerings.

    Original antique Tibetan cabinets are now very rare and there were many reproduction pieces made in China in the 1980's coming onto the market. 

     

    For further information on Tibetan symbolism, see Tibetan Buddhist Symbols by R Beer. 

     

     

    From Tibet

    UK Delivery Charge - except Highlands & Islands £40
    More delivery options available at checkout


    Shipping & Warranty

    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    *Free delivery cannot be combined with other offers

    Trade & Wholesale

    Our origins are in wholesale, so from movies to restaurants, retailers to architects, we have a long history of supplying our trade clients with unusual and unique oriental furniture & decorative art. 

    Whether purchasing for resale or buying on behalf of a client, we offer trade discount pricing to:


  • Retail Stores
  • Interior Designers
  • Film & Photo Studios
  • Architects
  • Event Producers

  • For all trade and wholesale enquiries please email us with your contact and business name, company registration number & VAT number (if applicable) to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Prop Hire

    Looking for that one off iconic piece for an event or requiring props for a filming or a photography shoot? You will have seen our oriental antique furniture & decorative art in the James Bond films, The Golden Compass and many others.


    For all prop hire enquiries please send emails to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    DISPATCH

    • - Non-furniture Delivery: 2-5 working days

    • - Furniture Delivery: Within 1 - 2 weeks

      (We'll call you to arrange a specific delivery date)

    • Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £250 | Use code "DELIVERY" at checkout

    RETURNS

    • - Hassle Free Returns

    • - Return your order within 28 days for a full refund (excluding delivery charges)

    • - Items must be returned in a resalable condition

    • - Collections can be arranged on request

    • Product Specific delivery charges visible above "Add to Basket" button and in Checkout (scroll up)

    • Additional charges may apply for deliveries to highlands, islands, out of area deliveries and collections. 

    • International Delivery: Please contact us for quotes on individual pieces

    Shipping & Warranty


    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    *Free delivery cannot be combined with other offers

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    DISPATCH

    • - Non-furniture Delivery: 2-5 working days

    • - Furniture Delivery: Within 1 - 2 weeks

      (We'll call you to arrange a specific delivery date)

    DELIVERY

    • - Small items: £7.50

    • - Medium Sized items: £15

    • - Small Furniture items: £40

    • - Furniture & Large Items: £80

    RETURNS

    • - Hassle Free Returns within 28 days for a full refund (excluding delivery charges)

    • - If you are not happy with your order, send it back with our delivery drivers. 

    • - Items must be returned in a resalable condition

    • - Collections can be arranged on request

    • Product Specific delivery charges visible above "Add to Basket" button and in Checkout (scroll up)

    • Additional charges may apply for deliveries to highlands, islands, out of area deliveries and collections. 

    • International Delivery: Please contact us for quotes on individual pieces at enquiries@indigo-uk.com, Livechat or calling +44 1672 564722

    Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £250 | Use code "DELIVERY" at checkout

    • GUARANTEED AUTHENTICITY ON ALL ANTIQUE PIECES

    • 100% SAFE AND SECURE CHECKOUT WITH SHOPIFY

    • FREE NO QUIBBLE RETURNS

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