Official's Robe Item Number: 2508/5 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Object is a long, yellow-orange, brocade robe. Robe is decorated with images of dark red and light pink lotus blossoms and bats, located symmetrically on front. Large lotus blossom on back of robe. Robe has an overlapping front with one metal ball-and-loop fastener. Underflap has grey geometric patterns on it. Robe has long and tapered sleeves.

Narrative

Yapshi-Yuthok Kalon Tashi Dhondup Collection: The title Yapshi is given to all families that have a Dalai Lama born into the family, and Shape and Kalon are titles that the four lay Cabinet Ministers hold. The Yuthok family is descended from the 10th Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso. Being a Minister in the Traditional Tibetan Government, Yapshi-Yuthok Tashi Dhondup was also known as Shape or Kalon Yuthok. There is one item belonging to Kalon Yuthok that is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum: a Tibetan saddle, which he used on special occasions and during the Tibetan New Year when he would go to the Potala Palace. It was the wish of the late Mrs. Tsering Dolkar Yapshi-Yuthok that the museum display the family's heirloom textiles so that visitors could learn about Tibet's rich history and culture.

Item History

What

Name
Official's Robe
Identification Number
2508/5
Type of Item
robe
Material
silk fibre, metal and dye
Overall
height 152.5 cm, width 199.5 cm

Who

Culture
Tibetan
Previous Owner
Yuthok Family
Received from
Fyfe-Smith Memorial Oriental Collection Fund (Funding source) and Yuthok Family (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Tibet

When

Creation Date
before 1900
Ownership Date
before July 27, 2000
Acquisition Date
on July 27, 2000

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Condition
fair
Accession Number
2508/0005