Not currently on display at the V&A

Wallet

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

This wallet forms part of the costume of Demo Rinpoche, the last Abbot of Tengyeling monastery in Lhasa. He was implicated in a plot to kill the young 13th Dalai Lama by sewing deadly charms into the soles of his boots. 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 the monastery and sold off its possessions, including this costume.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk velvet
Brief description
Lama's wallet of Russian silk velvet, Lhasa, late 19th century.
Physical description
Wallet of Russian silk velvet.
Dimensions
  • Length: 25.4cm
  • Width: 20.3cm
  • Length: 10in
  • Width: 8in
Historical context
This wallet 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 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 wallet forms part of the costume of Demo Rinpoche, the last Abbot of Tengyeling monastery in Lhasa. He was implicated in a plot to kill the young 13th Dalai Lama by sewing deadly charms into the soles of his boots. 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 the monastery and sold off its possessions, including this costume.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
IM.92D-1930

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdNovember 22, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest