Crown ties
gilt wood and pigment, West Tibet, 13th century
height 21 cm – 8 ¼ in each

This pair of carved wooden crown ties once attached to a five-leaf ceremonial crown. As can be seen in painted and sculpted images of the period, the rosettes would have been secured to the crown just above the ears ensuring that the leonine masks face the back of the head as they issue the crown’s cloth ties, here represented in carved wood. A circa thirteenth century date can be proffered, on the basis of comparisons with Tibetan carved wooden book covers.

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