Tibetan Golden Wheel Trunk

Made of humble pine, this late 19th-century Tibetan trunk once sparkled with vibrant color and shimmering gilt embellishment. A century of use has softened its original brilliance, transforming the lavish exterior with a dark patina, subdued palette and timeworn appearance.

Hand-painted with skillful detail, the face of the trunk is decorated with a checkered pattern of stripes, flowers, and floral medallions, all outlined in a gold border. Each round medallion has a four-petal design with a stylized character at the center. The allover design is contrasted by a red lacquer field dotted with small, gilt flowers and enclosed within a simple meander border.

At the center of the painted front is an intricate painting of the golden wheel or wheel of life, one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of the Buddha. A symbol of continuous motion and change, the wheel represents the spiritual transformation achieved through the Buddha's teachings. Now faded with time, the painting's detailed linework would have been quite impressive, traceable today in the dorje-shaped wheel spokes or the draped folds of the surrounding ribbons.

Additional Dimensions:
Interior: 34.25"W x 14.25"D x 16.25"H