Thai Manuscript Chest

Scope and Content

Small Thai Manuscript chest decorated in a black and gold design. There are three painted panels in the front, three at the back and one one either side. The base consists of two platforms which are decorated with floral motifs and geometrical patterns. The front panels show an ox drinking water from a lake on the lateral panels and a tiger on the middle panel. On one side there are two monkeys interacting with each other; the other side has a similar scene but with an additional hare looking at the monkeys. One back panel shows two humans talking to each other with one crouching and the other hanging off a cliff, the middle panel has a tiger attacking a crane-like bird and the third panel has two birds with human heads. All the panels have floral backgrounds. The top section has motifs too but the lid has no decoration on it. The chest is 82cm x 29cm at its base with a height of 34cm. It is unknown when this chest came into the possession of Quaritch Wales.
The chest is housed in the Reading Room.