Teacup, Lid, Stand, D92.34

Tibetan tea cup made from green soap stone, plus metal base and lid (three parts). Smoothly finished undecorated round cup. The metal base is comprised of a cylinder which tapers inwards slightly from bottom to top. The top and bottom of this cylinder are rimmed by ornately decorated, gold-coloured strips of metal. The upper gold rim has flower designs. Directly below this rim, a petal-like structure fans out. Each petal (of which there are eight) has a design. The flute, either singly or in pairs, is an element of these designs. The ends of the petals curve upwards so as to form a saucer. The metal lid is tiered in appearance. There are two main tiers which step upwards from a wide, flat rim at the bottom. Each of the two tiers has four gold-coloured decorative areas. The upper tier has perforations through its decorated areas to let the steam out. The top of this lid rises to a bulb-shaped pinnacle which also has gold-coloured designs. A thin gold strip rings the outermost edge of the flat rim at the bottom of the lid.

Locality: Tibet

Presented to William Dunning by Rimshi Dhoti, the administrator of Pharidzong, 1947.

Item was previously on loan to: Otago Museum