Tibetan conch ritual (Dung-Dkar) - Tibet
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€ 90
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Selected by Sarah Le Helley
Studied Asian art and art market management; researched art in Taipei; worked in auctions.
Estimate € 200 - € 220
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Tibetan ritual conch (Dung-Dkar) in a natural conch with repoussé silver mounts and turquoise and red coral inlays, measures 31 × 16 × 12 cm, weighs 1,750 g, dating to the late 20th century, from a private collection in Tibet, in good condition.
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Description from the seller
Tibetan ritual conch shell (Dung-Dkar), silver alloy repoussé mounts, inlays of turquoise and coral, Tibet, mid-20th century.
Total weight: approx. 1.75 kg
Dimensions: 31x16x12 cm
Materials: natural shell, repoussé mounts in silver alloy, natural turquoise and red coral cabochons, interior with natural golden patina.
This is an impressive and richly decorated Tibetan ritual conch shell, known as a Dung-Dkar, traditionally used in Buddhist ceremonies as a sound-producing auspicious instrument and a symbol of the Buddha’s teachings.
The piece features elaborate repoussé work in silver alloy, finely chiselled with dragons, floral scrolls, cloud motifs, and multiple auspicious symbols organized in concentric registers. The mounts are made in silver alloy (confirmed by acid test). The upper section is set with natural Himalayan-type turquoise cabochons and red coral, mounted on detailed metal collars.
The repoussé work shows deep relief, rhythmic patterns, and iconography coherent with mid-20th-century Tibetan craftsmanship. The shell’s interior preserves a warm natural aging patina, while the mounts show oxidation, wear, and traces of ritual use, especially visible at the joints and seams.
The shell itself presents age-stabilized cracks, characteristic of pieces that have been transported, handled, and used in monastic contexts for decades. The tip is finished with a turquoise terminal bead, a typical element of ritual shells intended for monastic use or high-ranking ceremonies.
The quality of execution, weight, and complexity of ornamentation suggest this piece was not a tourist object but a high-quality ritual instrument, probably commissioned for monastic or ceremonial use.
Condition: The conch is intact and structurally stable. It shows age-related cracks, oxidation on metal surfaces, small losses along the interior edge, and wear consistent with ritual use. No modern repairs are evident. The turquoise stones exhibit the characteristic texture of untreated material.
Origin: European private family collection. Acquired in India in 1998 directly from a Tibetan refugee family, who received the piece from a relative who transported it from Tibet in the late 1960s.
Tibetan ritual conch shell (Dung-Dkar), silver alloy repoussé mounts, inlays of turquoise and coral, Tibet, mid-20th century.
Total weight: approx. 1.75 kg
Dimensions: 31x16x12 cm
Materials: natural shell, repoussé mounts in silver alloy, natural turquoise and red coral cabochons, interior with natural golden patina.
This is an impressive and richly decorated Tibetan ritual conch shell, known as a Dung-Dkar, traditionally used in Buddhist ceremonies as a sound-producing auspicious instrument and a symbol of the Buddha’s teachings.
The piece features elaborate repoussé work in silver alloy, finely chiselled with dragons, floral scrolls, cloud motifs, and multiple auspicious symbols organized in concentric registers. The mounts are made in silver alloy (confirmed by acid test). The upper section is set with natural Himalayan-type turquoise cabochons and red coral, mounted on detailed metal collars.
The repoussé work shows deep relief, rhythmic patterns, and iconography coherent with mid-20th-century Tibetan craftsmanship. The shell’s interior preserves a warm natural aging patina, while the mounts show oxidation, wear, and traces of ritual use, especially visible at the joints and seams.
The shell itself presents age-stabilized cracks, characteristic of pieces that have been transported, handled, and used in monastic contexts for decades. The tip is finished with a turquoise terminal bead, a typical element of ritual shells intended for monastic use or high-ranking ceremonies.
The quality of execution, weight, and complexity of ornamentation suggest this piece was not a tourist object but a high-quality ritual instrument, probably commissioned for monastic or ceremonial use.
Condition: The conch is intact and structurally stable. It shows age-related cracks, oxidation on metal surfaces, small losses along the interior edge, and wear consistent with ritual use. No modern repairs are evident. The turquoise stones exhibit the characteristic texture of untreated material.
Origin: European private family collection. Acquired in India in 1998 directly from a Tibetan refugee family, who received the piece from a relative who transported it from Tibet in the late 1960s.
Details
Country of Origin
Tibet
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Shell
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Tibetan conch ritual (Dung-Dkar)
Height
16 cm
Width
31 cm
Depth
12 cm
Weight
1750 g
Provenance
Private collection
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