Former chest of the Himachal

This tribal chest of carved solid wood comes from the state of himachal pradesh, in northern india. Place of residence of the dalai lama, the tibetan influence is very strong in this region, dotted with monasteries and buddhist temples. The construction of this chest reflects the way of life of its former owners. Nomads, they had to be able to carry their possessions during their travels. Thus this chest is not joined with nails, but with a system of studs and keys that allows it to be dismantled and reassembled easily. The bas-relief of this chest depicts scenes from everyday life, in this case a hunting scene with men on horseback, and a hunter struggling with what appears to be a panther. The lid, once opened, can be blocked with the help of a hook. Its closure with its metal chain is original. This raw-looking chest is characteristic of the himalayan region. Similar ones can be found as far away as pakistan and even afghanistan, most often with geometric sculptures, including rose windows. You will find a lot on the market old chests similar to this one but with rosette patterns: beware because for the most part the engravings have been added recently. This one is a rare piece, unearthed after a long search! Maintenance: as its original patina has been kept intact, we recommend that you use only a dry cloth to clean this old chest.

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