A GILT COPPER-ALLOY AND SILK SADDLE AND BRIDLE, Tibet, 19th century

The saddle with gilt damascened metalwork adorned with intricate designs of dragons chasing precious jewels amidst a profusion of scrollwork and leafy vines, all interspersed with turquoise and other semi-precious stones, the silk brocade red-ground saddle cover decorated with dragon roundels, the leather reins and trappings similarly decorated with gilt copper-alloy plaques depicting striding dragons.
The saddle, 48cm (18 7/8in) wide.

十九世紀 鍍金鏤龍紋馬鞍及馬轡一組

The presence of a red yak-hair tassel (snying dom) on the bridle of the present lot indicates that this set once belonged to a government official. Compare with a related Tibetan saddle, 18th/19th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated in Warriors of the Himalayas, New Haven and London, 2006, no.116. See another related saddle, 19th/20th century, illustrated in Ibid., no.124.

See a related copper alloy repoussé saddle with associated stirrups and bridle, Tibet, 18th/19th century, which was sold at Bonhams New York, 19 March 2019, lot 942.