shrine; plaque; ts’a-ts’a BM-1954-0222.8

Period:Unknown Production date:19thC
Materials:wood, clay, gold,
Technique:gilded, painted, carved, inlaid,
Subjects:buddha deity bodhisattva
Dimensions:Height: 43 centimetres

Description:
A portable shrine made of painted wood with metal loops at the side. Opening the front doors reveals the interior, painted and inlaid gilt clay Tsa Tsa plaques of: the many-armed and -headed Vajrabhairava, tutelary deity of the Yellow Hat sect (in yab-yum), the Buddha, the saviouress Tara and other deities and ecclesiastics. The inner faces of the doors are painted with offerings of food, flowers and instruments.
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Comments:Zwalf 1985This wooden box has metal loops at the sides for easy transport and may have belonged to a monk whose servant strapped it to himself when accompanying his master. The interior holds gilt clay plaques (‘tsha-tsha’) representing the many-armed and -headed Vajrabhairava, tutelary deity of the Yellow Hat sect, the Buddha, the saviouress Tārā, and other deities and ecclesiastics. The inner faces of the doors are painted with conventional offerings symbolising wealth.