Page 187 - Bonhams NYC Indian and Himalayan Art March 2019
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A PARCEL GILT SILVER AND GILT COPPER ALLOY REPOUSSÉ Such lavish saddles were reserved for Tibetan nobility and government
SADDLE WITH ASSOCIATED GOLD DAMASCENED STIRRUPS officials. In discussion of a closely related example held in the
AND BRIDLE SET Metropolitan Museum of Art (Warriors of the Himalayas, 2006, p.242,
TIBET, CIRCA 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY no.146), La Rocca notes the diversity of use of these saddles by
Himalayan Art Resources item no.61946 different members of the family over multiple generations, including a
Saddle: 19 in. (48 cm) long “ceremonial horseback target-shooting competition”.
$8,000 - 12,000 A closely related example is in the Chenxuntang Collection, published
in Xu, Jewels of Transcendence, Hong Kong, 2018, pp.226 & 227,
西藏 約十八與十九世紀 no.160. Further examples were sold at Sotheby’s, New York, 19
局部銀鎏金與銅鎏金錘揲馬鞍配鋄金馬鐙與馬轡 September 2015, lot 712 and 19 March 2014, lot 81.
The saddle panels are decorated with elaborate repoussé, showing Provenance
parcel-gilt silver dragons framing a central kirtimukha (Face of Glory). Private American Collection, acquired in Nepal, late 1970s
The panels are further adorned with inset turquoise and red glass Thence by descent
bosses. The saddle is equipped with gold-damascened iron stirrups
and leather-backed bridle, likely of an earlier date.
INDIAN, HIMALAYAN & SOUTHEAST ASIAN ART | 185
