Tibetan Manuscript Box— Hand-Painted, With Red Lacquer & Iron Straps— Mid-20th Century

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A striking mid-century Tibetan manuscript box, hand-decorated and richly adorned with a powerful dragon surrounded by stylized clouds and auspicious … Read more A striking mid-century Tibetan manuscript box, hand-decorated and richly adorned with a powerful dragon surrounded by stylized clouds and auspicious motifs. Traditionally used to store long Buddhist sutras or temple scrolls, this example features raised gesso and layered mineral-style pigments in deep cinnabar red, gold, and green.
Iron strapwork reinforces the body, lending an architectural presence and echoing the robust construction of Himalayan temple furnishings. The surface displays an expressive folk-painting style associated with regional workshop production serving monastic use and pilgrimage trade during the mid-20th century.
At 19.5 inches long, this is a substantial and sculptural piece—ideal for console styling, bookshelf display, or use as an artful storage box in your home.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE
In Tibetan Buddhist art, dragons symbolize divine protection and enlightened power. Painted manuscript chests such as this were used in monasteries and private prayer rooms to house sacred palm-leaf-format texts. The present example reflects the vibrant devotional aesthetic of mid-century Himalayan craftsmanship, before modern pigments and mass-production largely replaced hand-gilded and gesso-relief work.

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