Collection place: Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China / Year collected: [Missing] / Materials: Leather - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Collection place Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China Year collected [Missing] Materials Leather

Hearst Museum object titled Body armor, accession number 9-21888, described as Two convex iron disks 7 3/4 inches in diameter, 3/4 inch deep and two convex iron disks 6 3/4 inches in diameter, 3/4 inch deep. They are joined together by leather straps with steel buckles. These appear to be some type of decorative body armor.

Hearst Museum object titled Boot (footwear), accession number 9-22084a,b, described as men’s, long dress boots. combined leather and stacked fabric soles. black leather uppers are appliquéd with green leather decoration. tops are black velvet or velour with green leather Chinese character appliquéd on right and left side at ankle. green leather band up front from toe to top, around shoe and up the back. brown leather appliquéd at back. calf of boot is split up the back for 25 cm. top and split back edged with black cotton fabric. lined with white cotton fabric.

Hearst Museum object titled Boot (footwear), accession number 9-22153a,b, described as monk's short boots made with thick leather and layered fabric soles, and finished with a fine gold leather bead where sole attaches to shoe. uppers of maroon velvet decorated with variegated white to blue braid and narrow piping of dark brown leather from toe to top of boot, around foot and up back. finished with a band of black velvet at top and lined with cotton fabric.

Hearst Museum object titled Boots (footwear), accession number 9-17838a,b, described as Leather and textile boot, Sherpa.

Hearst Museum object titled Boots (footwear), accession number 9-17836a,b, described as boots, a pair; leather sole sewn on with herring bone stitches; multiple pieces red and green felt instep embroidered with leaf-like pattern; burgundy colored woolen leg split on top; worn by both men and women against cold; collected on the Californian Makalu Himalayan Expedition.

Hearst Museum object titled Broken ghanta bell, accession number 9-21903a,b, described as This is an old ghanta bell with a handle of gilded bronze. The bell is made of a five metal alloy to produce a rich, full sound. The bell is badly cracked and the upper part of the bell, below where the handle joins, is completely broken. The striker shows a pattern of wear associated with many years of constant use.The ghanta bell is used in most Tantric rituals. It is held in the left hand and the matched vajra is held in the right. The matching vajra to this ghanta is not present in the collection. It would match upper part of the ghanta handle. The ghanta embodies the feminine principle in Tantric usage, and the vajra is the masculine. The ghanta holds the principle of ultimate wisdom and the vajra, the principle of ultimate compassion and skillful means.Ghanta bells in this collection are numbers: T-23; T-63; T-66; T-67; & T-85

Hearst Museum object titled Canopy, accession number 9-22157, described as canopy formed with a central panel of confronting diagrams embroidered in gold thread centered on several Chinese motifs and with a sacred mountain, clouds and waves border at one end on an orange ground. dragons are grasping flaming jewels plus 2 additional flaming jewels at top of panel. center panel bordered on 2 sides by rectangular panels of brocaded silk decorated with waves and cloaks, plus one dragon and flaming jewel. background is caramel colored with yellow/blue/green, white/gray/pink brocade. this central motif is bordered with a yellow brocade cloud motif border 30.0 cm wide with central panels of dragons. both borders feature dragons, clouds and flaming jewels plus wave/clouds/sacred mountains border at base of each blue dragon panel. a pleated ruffle of yellow-green and rust silk hangs downward where the canopy is suspended. far outer edges on all sides are pale blue silk with card binding. backed with panels of natural canvas and rust colored heavy silk. leather straps attached to each corner for hanging.

Hearst Museum object titled Ceremonial hat, accession number 9-21933, described as Tibetan aristocrat’s ceremonial hat. This is a hard lacquered hat worn by noblemen on special occasions. There are dragon motifs on the upper surface and motifs of the eight auspicious signs on the lower surface (See: T-251 through T-258).

Hearst Museum object titled Cymbal, accession number 9-22069, described as T-206 & T-207 are one set of rolmo cymbals, also known as "bhookh." Together with regular cymbals (flat rather than hat-shaped) and long horns (gDung Chen--T-143 and T-144) they are played for ceremonial occasions at Tibetan monasteries, typically accompanied by bass drums. The hollow, hat-shape of these cymbals gives them the deep, stentorian sound valued in Tibetan sacred music. The rolmo cymbals are held horizontally, using the leather thongs, the upper one moved up and down to produce sound.