Seal thumbnail 1
Not on display

Seal

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Bangkok (made)

Both monks and government officials used seals to mark receipts and official papers. Monks also placed seal imprints on sacred texts and other temple belongings to identify them. Appropriately in a Buddhist country these seals have been made to resemble the Buddhist reliquary monument or stupa, in Thailand called chedi.

Object details

Categories
Buddhism
Tools & Equipment
Object type
Seal
Materials and techniques
Ivory with traces of red seal ink
Brief description
Ivory seal in the shape of a Buddhist stupa with Kinnara carved on base, Bangkok, 19th century
Physical description
Ivory seal in the shape of a Buddhist stupa, carved on the base in intaglio with the design of mythical male demi-god (Kinnara).
Dimensions
  • Height: 7cm
  • Diameter: 5.1cm
Gallery label
(1/10/2008)
PRESENTATION VESSEL WITH COVER (THAI: TIEB)
Rattan, mother of pearl and lacquer
Thailand
19th century

IS 8:1-3--2005

Splendid receptacles such as this were used by royalty and the nobility to present food offerings to monks.
To create the design pieces of shell (turbo and trochus), fished from the Gulf of Thailand, are set into lacquer and the spaces between filled with a charcoal and sap paste. When dry this is rubbed and polished until smooth.


Credit line
Gift from Doris Duke's Southeast Asian Art Collection
Summary
Both monks and government officials used seals to mark receipts and official papers. Monks also placed seal imprints on sacred texts and other temple belongings to identify them. Appropriately in a Buddhist country these seals have been made to resemble the Buddhist reliquary monument or stupa, in Thailand called chedi.
Bibliographic reference
N. Tingley, Doris Duke. The Southeast Asian Art Collection, New York, 2003, pl. 72, p. 90.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.11-2005

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Record createdJuly 1, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O113819/seal-unknown/
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