A TIBETAN MONASTIC GILT-DECORATED WOOD SUTRA BOX

A TIBETAN MONASTIC GILT-DECORATED WOOD SUTRA BOX

18TH CENTURY

The rectangular box fitted with a drawer, decorated to three sides with gold line drawings depicting the Chakravartin with his entourage, possessions and sacred images, together with a copy of the 1999 Spink catalogue Visions of Perfect Worlds: Buddhist Art from the Himalayas, 33.5cm x 67.5cm x 27.5cm. (2)

Provenance: Spink & Son Ltd, 1990s.

Illustrated: Spink, Visions of Perfect Worlds: Buddhist Art from the Himalayas, p.109, no.72.

The Chakravartin is a universal monarch who rules through compassion and wisdom. The birth of a Chakravartin brings seven abundances into the realm: a wealth of faith, morality, honesty, modesty, learning, renunciation and wisdom. His seven precious jewels also appear at the same time: the precious wheel, jewel, queen, minister, elephant, horse and general.