Not currently on display at the V&A

Scarf

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

This scarf forms part of a set of clothes that once belonged 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. The plot was revealed by the State Oracle while in trance and Demo Rinpoche and others were imprisoned in the Potala Palace. Demo Rinpoche himself died a few months later. The Tibetan government dissolved the monastery and sold off its possessions, including this costume.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pulo-cloth applied with satin pieces
Brief description
Lama's shoulder-scarf of pulo-cloth applied with satin, Lhasa, late 19th century
Physical description
Lama's shoulder-scarf made up of eight pieces of pulo-cloth in twill-weave stitched together and with two small applied pieces of red satin.
Dimensions
  • Length: 502.9cm
  • Width: 99.1cm
  • Length: 198in
  • Width: 39.5in
Historical context
This scarf forms part of the complete costume (IM.92 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
Formerly owned by the abbot of the Tengyeling monastery, Lhasa
Summary
This scarf forms part of a set of clothes that once belonged 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. The plot was revealed by the State Oracle while in trance and Demo Rinpoche and others were imprisoned in the Potala Palace. Demo Rinpoche himself died a few months later. The Tibetan government dissolved the monastery and sold off its possessions, including this costume.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
IM.92A-1930

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Record createdNovember 22, 2005
Record URL
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