Not currently on display at the V&A

Boot

Pair of Boots
late 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This boot belongs to a set of clothes once belonging to Demo Rinpoche, the last Abbot of Tengyeling monastery in Lhasa. He was implicated in a plot to kill the 13th Dalai Lama by sewing deadly charms into the soles of his boots, which in construction would have been similar to this example. The plot was revealed by the State Oracle while in a trance and Demo Rinpoche and others were imprisoned in the Potala palace. Demo Rinpoche himself died a few months later. The Tibetan government dissolved Tengyeling monastery and sold off its posessions, including this costume.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Boot
  • Boot
TitleBoot
Materials and techniques
Woollen felt applied with silk brocade, plaited cotton cord
Brief description
Lama's boots of woollen felt, silk and cotton, Lhasa, late 19th century
Physical description
Pair of boots of maroon-coloured woollen felt with applied pieces of Chinese silk brocade. The uppers and soles are of plaited white cotton cord. The boots are open at the back and have turned-up toes.
Dimensions
  • Length: 48.26cm
  • Sole length: 25.4cm
  • Length: 19in
  • Soles length: 10in
Object history
Forms part of the complete costume (IM92 to G-1930) worn by the last abbot of the Tengyeling monastery in Lhasa. Implicated in a plot of the Regent's to kill the young 13th Dalai Lama by sewing death dealing charms into the soles of his boots his monastery was disenfranchised and its contents sold off by the Tibetan government. Acquired by David Macdonald, the British Trade Agent at Gyantse.
Production
Additional fabrics from China and Russia.
Summary
This boot belongs to a set of clothes once belonging to Demo Rinpoche, the last Abbot of Tengyeling monastery in Lhasa. He was implicated in a plot to kill the 13th Dalai Lama by sewing deadly charms into the soles of his boots, which in construction would have been similar to this example. The plot was revealed by the State Oracle while in a trance and Demo Rinpoche and others were imprisoned in the Potala palace. Demo Rinpoche himself died a few months later. The Tibetan government dissolved Tengyeling monastery and sold off its posessions, including this costume.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
IM.92F&G-1930

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Record createdNovember 18, 2005
Record URL
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