Robe Item Number: Ee4.62 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Dark yellow damask robe with standing collar, wide tapered sleeves and side opening with frog closure and cloud motif. Around the neckline is a large four-toed dragon with pearl and fire motifs in gold, red, blue, green and white on dark yellow ground. On the lower front and back, sleeves and side opening are narrow bands with dragon, fire, pearl, mountain and wave motifs. The inner lining is blue damask with the Buddhist symbols of good fortune. Around the edges of the lining is a border of red damask with floral motifs.

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 visitors can learn about Tibet's rich history and culture.

Item History

What

Name
Robe
Identification Number
Ee4.62
Type of Item
robe
Material
silk fibre, dye and metal
Overall
height 161.0 cm, width 204.0 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
during 1650
Ownership Date
before January 21, 1985
Acquisition Date
on January 21, 1985

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Condition
fair
Current Location
Case 81
Accession Number
1022/0002