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Horn
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Horn
BHUTAN; 18th–19th century; Rhino horn; L: 20.3 cm; Art Institute of Chicago, USA
This ritual instrument is carved with portraits of Tibetan Buddhist patriarchs, animals, and landscape features.
The curved horn has a wide base that is carved with landscape features, including jagged crags and cascading streams. In the upper section, there is a niche in the shape of a lotus petal with a seated image of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the Tibetan lama who unified Bhutan. The niches in the middle section contain Vaisravana, mounted on a lion, and Padmasambhava. Reliefs of animals are carved on the bottom section. The niches are painted in a traditional red color, while the human figures and animals appear in gold. |
