Ceremonial Tea-Urn
unknown (Tibetan)

Download7A2-IN-PWM-TL-A01_cp.jpg (321.5Kb)
Alternate file
Alternative Title
Ceremonial Teapot
Date
1700-1799Description
Overall view; This teapot is meant for daily use. Common decorations, especially a Makara (crocodile) or dragon-shaped spout, include mythical and auspicious creatures and plant motifs. All of these, including a lizard and serpent figure shown on the spout of this pot, are associated with water cosmology and are ancient aquatic symbols of abundance and fertility. The top of this samovar or teapot resembles the cap of a Lama, with the sacred syllables "Om Mani Padme Hum." Guardians of the Four Quarters adorn the main body, and under the spout is the figure of Abhimukha. [description from museum label]
Type of Work
teapotSubject
animal, deities, Buddhism and art, Tibetan (culture or style)
Rights
Rights Statement
Licensed for educational and research use by the MIT community only