This sculpted tribal wooden tribal chest comes from the state of the Himachal Pradesh, in northwestern India. Place of residence of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan influence is very strong in this region, dotted with monasteries and Boudhist temples.
The construction of this trunk reflects the lifestyle of its former owners. Nomads, they had to be able to transport their possessions during their travels. So this trunk is not attached with nails, but with a system of tenons and keyboards which allows to disassemble and go back easily. The bas-relief of this trunk depicts scenes from daily life, in this case a man and a woman sharing a hookah, peacocks and other characters. The lid, once open, can be blocked using a hook. Its closure with its metal chain is original.
This raw chest is characteristic of the Himalayan region. We find similar to Pakistan and even in Afghanistan, most often with geometric sculptures, especially rosettes. You will find a lot on the market of old chests similar to it but with rosette patterns: beware because for the most part the sculptures have been added recently.
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Dimensions: H 80cm x W 107cm x D 46 cm
Material (x): solid wood
Origin: India
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Maintenance: Its original patina having been kept intact, we recommend that you only use a dry cloth to clean this old trunk.
