Jokhang Temple: Vessel with Deer Head

CHINA, Tibet, Lhasa

Silver sheets were hammered to form the two hemispheres of this vessel, which were then welded together. Another silver sheet was made into a cylinder to form the neck, which was attached to the top of the sphere. The resulting spherical vessel was mounted onto a wooden stand. It has a slender neck surmounted by a deer head. The sphere contains human figures below and decorative designs above. The middle of the sphere, as well as the base and top of the neck, have decorative bands in gold and silver. Liquid can be poured through the mouth of the deer, or through a hole in the bottom.
The lower portion of the sphere is decorated with images of Central Asian figures. Two solo male dancers appear wearing long lower garments and raising their musical instruments in the air. A group of three men appear to be engaged in a lively drinking bout. This presence of Central Asian figures on the vessel demonstrates the wide-ranging cultural exchange which took place during the period of the Tibetan Empire (781–847).