Boot
Pair of Boots
late 19th century (made)
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.
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Title | Boot |
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 |
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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 |
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Collection | |
Accession number | IM.92F&G-1930 |
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Record created | November 18, 2005 |
Record URL |
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