Tsaku-tsaya wooden bowl with gilt iron case, made in Tibet, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

Tsaku-tsaya wooden bowl with gilt iron case, made in Tibet, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

• Image Number: K1D000586N000000000PAB
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Miscellaneous objects
• Function: Container
• Material: Plants/Wood/Walnut
• Description:
  “Zagu” is the transliteration of “starka” in Tibetan, and “Zaya” is the transliteration of “rdzabya” in Tibetan. Traditionally, Tibetans believed that the walnut gall as a container diet could prevent hemiplegia and cardiovascular diseases, so they paid tribute to the court. However, the name may not be translated gracefully, so they adopted transliteration. According to the age of the tree gall, the patterns of the wooden bowls can be divided into four categories: cow liver pattern, pig mane pattern, owl feather pattern, and flame pattern; Among them, the tree gall with flame pattern is the oldest, and the wooden bowl is also the most valuable. The Zaguzaya wooden bowls are generally with a wide mouth, an arc belly, a thin bowl wall, and an arched wall on the bottom of the foot. Silver rims can also be seen. As this kind of wooden bowl is extremely rare, the Tibetan nobles also specially made iron bronze bowl sets for carrying. The mouth edge of the bowl sleeve is connected with the cover, and the two sides are embedded with lifting beam ears, which can be carried by tying ropes.