| Altar Table B012 |
 |
 |
 |
| front view |
left end |
 |
| top perspective view |
|
click on the thumbnail pictures above to see larger views
This very special two-door altar with two drawers on the bottom was made for the guest residential compound reserved for visiting high lamas. The artwork is transitional, spanning the typically monochrome art of the 16th century with the signature zigzag kyungbur of the 19th & 20th centuries. The piece is finished inside & ou, usual with altars & storage cabinets made for this special use. The wood is predominately Asian cedar with some cypress introduced into the mix. The brass coins on the drawer fronts are the only metal hardware on this piece. Please see "Iconography" below for the significance of the 24kt gold leaves. The pulls are leather. The hinges of the doors are wood-pegs that fit into a hole in the underside of the top & slide into a groove on the horizontal frame. The door-pull is the vertical kyungbur trim in the center of the two doors. This piece is painted only on the front. The front trim, the drawers, & the left & right front non-moving panels are done in the zigzag kyungbur. The doors are painted without use of the kyungbur technique. The sides, back & top are a natural wood with an oil finish. This is a transitional piece between the 16th-18th century styles & the late 19th-20th century styles. Comes with a Certificate Of Authenticity.
Age: 1760-1804
Dimensions: H=27" W=34" D=15" (approximate)
To Purchase this item, get questions answered or would like additional photographs, contact David by emailing david@baronet4tibet.com
Price $5575.00, plus shipping & handling: West Coast $450, Mtn. States $469, Mid West $488, Atlantic coast $495 Canadian destinations, contact us for a quote.
Iconography
The front doors have 5 of the 8 auspicious symbols: Dharma Wheel, two golden fish, the parasol, the lotus blossom & the conch shell. The top has the 8-spoke Dharma Wheel. In three parts, the wheel exists as a hub, the center of the world, with 8 spokes denoting the 8 paths to enlightenment. These 8 steps work together, not separately. 1. Right understanding 2. Right attitude 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right work 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right meditation. The rim represents the attribute of limitation. All are contained within a circle, which is perceived as perfection & completeness, like the teachings of the Buddha.
The pair of golden fish, having complete freedom in water, represent happiness, fertility, & abundance. On a spiritual level, they represent the abundance of the Buddha’s energy, which never diminishes regardless of how much is given away.
The parasol & the shade it casts symbolize wisdom. Its hanging skirt indicates compassion, so the parasol becomes a symbol of protection from the painful heat of suffering & desire. Occasionally, an 8- sided parasol is seen. This element also refers to the eightfold path to enlightenment.
The lotus is an important Buddhist motif since images of the Buddha & other important deities often are seen seated on a lotus throne. The growth of the lotus, its roots in mud & growing through water to emerge as a wonderful plant above the surface, is seen as analogy of the soul’s path from the mud of materialism to the air of enlightenment. Just as the lotus blossom rises above the mud & is beautiful, so must you raise your thinking out of the mud with pure, clean thoughts that are noble & praiseworthy. Then, you also will be beautiful.
A conch horn sounds in all directions, as do the teachings of the Buddha. The conch is seen as a vehicle fearlessly proclaiming the truth of the dharma in all directions. It is also seen as an emblem of power & authority & is thought to banish evil.
The bottom panels & drawers have elongated Chinese oak leaves done in gold kyungbur. As a symbol of majesty & strength, the Chinese oak is especially appropriate for use on this altar. This oak's acorns are used medicinally, & its leaves provide nourishment for wild uncultivated silkworm. The gold (24kt) used to color these leaves denotes purity.
