Not currently on display at the V&A

Lustration Spoon

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

Actual conch shells have a long history of sacred association for Buddhists in India and Tibet where they have also been used as trumpets in monasteries to summon the monastic community. The use of a conch-shaped spoon in a ritual contexts is therefore an appropriate one. Chamdo in eastern Tibet was known for its bronze-casting industries until the 20th century.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bronze, cast and chased
Brief description
Lustration spoon, Chank-shell shaped, bronze, cast chased, E.Tibet, 19th century.
Physical description
Lustration spoon of cast and chased bronze. In the form of a six-valved Chank-shell, cut down the middle. The valves are gourd-shaped - one considerably larger than the other three, has the form of a bowl, marked with a lotus-petal pattern on its underside.
Dimensions
  • Length: 8.9cm
  • Width: 3.2cm
Subject depicted
Summary
Actual conch shells have a long history of sacred association for Buddhists in India and Tibet where they have also been used as trumpets in monasteries to summon the monastic community. The use of a conch-shaped spoon in a ritual contexts is therefore an appropriate one. Chamdo in eastern Tibet was known for its bronze-casting industries until the 20th century.
Collection
Accession number
IM.75-1929

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Record createdJanuary 3, 2006
Record URL
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