Image

Kachalinta: Old Tibetan Boxes or Trunks

Tibetan monastic boxes or chests were originally used in the store rooms of monasteries to hold the brocades, hangings, ornaments, Cham costumes, masks and other precious objects that were not used every day. These chests were often offered to the monastery by a sponsor, so each donor would try to use the best materials and the best artists of the time to make the box a worthy offering. They were also commissioned by the monastic authorities themselves, and would have been painted by the thankha painters of that monastery. Often large amounts of gold and the best mineral colours were used in the execution, hence some of the best examples of Tibetan furniture decoration are found on these boxes. Dragons, lotus flowers and flaming jewels are amongst the most popular motifs on the boxes. These are an example of some of the authentic, old Tibetan boxes in stock.



Image
SB192
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB192 Detail
Classic dragon box, with "kati rimo" field design
Image
SB290
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB290 Detail
Bowl with flaming jewels
Image
SB108
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB108 Detail
Beautiful pheonix in the cartouche

Image
SB188
16th Century Box
Southern Tibet
Image
SB188 Detail
Old style "Lokha box" with scalloped top
Image
SB203
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB203 Detail
Bowl of jewels amongst flowers in cartouche
Image
SB204
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB204 Detail
Dragon on a green background

Image
SB233
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB233 Detail
Classic dragon box, silver design on red background
Image
SB234
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB234 Detail
Smiling dragon in cartouche
Image
SB568
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB568 Detail
Classic dragon box, with "kati rimo" field design

Image
SB236P1
Pair of 18th Century Boxes
Central Tibet
Image
SB236P1 Detail
Classic dragon boxes, with "kati rimo" field design
Image
SB236P2
Pair of 18th Century Boxes
Central Tibet

Image
SB608
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB608 Detail
Lotus flower in cartouche
Image
SB308
Classic dragon boxes, with clouds in the border

Image
SB308 Detail
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB292
Early box with 18th Century decoration

Image
SB292 Detail
Jewel in centre with "Kati rimo" in the field

Image
SB312P1
Pair of 18th Century Boxes
Central Tibet
Image
SB312 Detail
Pair with bowl and jewels amongst flowers
Image
SB312P2
Pair of 18th Century Boxes
Central Tibet

Image
SB315

18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB381
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB381 Detail
Classic double dragon with jewels in the cartouche

Image
SB568
Pair of 18th Century Boxes
Central Tibet
Image
SB568 Detail

A floral design in the central cartouche
Image
SB608
Pair of 18th Century Boxes
Central Tibet

Image
SB426
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB426 Detail

The entire box covered in "kati rimo"
Image
SB428
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB437
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB437 Detail

Dragon with Chinese characters in the field
Image
SB564

Early box with later (18-19th Century) painting


Image
SB440
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB440 Detail

Dragon and flowers in the central cartouche
Image
SB441
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB442
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB442 Detail

Two dragons holding up a plate of jewels in the center
Image
SB551
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB448
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB448 Detail

Single dragon in the central cartouche
Image
SB551
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB551 Detail
Flaming jewel amongst foliage
Image
SB555 Detail

Front facing dragon with kati rimo
Image
SB555
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB583
17-18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB590 Detail

Single dragon and kati rimo design in the field
Image
SB590
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB592
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB592 Detail

Dragon with a bowl of jewels on his head
Image
SB595
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB594
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB594 Detail

Dragon & elaborate kati rimo design in the field
Image
SB613
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB604
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB604 Detail

Animal with auspicious symbols in center
Image
SB614
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB605
16-17th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB605 Detail

Painted on 3 sides and top, made to carry
Image
SB622
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB623
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB625

18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB636
Early Box, re-painted in 18th-19th Century
Central Tibet

Image
SB643
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB647

Kati Rimo design with clouds and pictures
Image
SB647
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB561
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB561 Detail

Elaborate kati rimo design in the field
Image
SB572
18th Century Box
Central Tibet

Image
SB572 Detail
Classic dragon and kati rimo box
Image
SB575

17th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB575 Detail
Box made to carry brocade, painted on 3 sides

Image
SB581
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB568 Detail

Chepak or zipac with bowl on jewels on his head
Image
SB573
18th Century Box
Central Tibet


Image
SB410
Early 20th Century
Kham, Eastern Tibet
Image
SC411
18th Century Box
Central Tibet
Image
SB411 Detail

2 pheonix amongst foilage