A fine Thai Buddhist Temple document storage cabinet, 19th century.

Of solid teak, richly decorated in traditional red lacqer, gilt and ebony with warscenes and patterns H. 145, B. 86, D. 73 cm. Litteratur: Magazine article by Steve Van Beek "Ebony and Gold": "...The book cabinet occupies a prominent place in a Thai Buddhist temple. since every other exposed surface paintings and decoration, it is only natural that a cabinet be given the same treatment. But a book cabinet rates a more elegant form of decoration because it holds the sacred manuscripts on which Buddha´s image, encased in glowing gold and ebony. Lacquer and gilt book cabinets are found in nearly every templein the country. They sit either at the back of the principal chapel or in the "Ho Trai" (temple library) an elegant little building often perched high on stilts in the middle of a pond to discourage termites from entering and devouring the fragile manuscripts. The cabinet shape is unique. Made of teak wood, it stands about shoulder high on short, bandy, bulldog-like legs and like most Thais houses its sides slope inward like a truncated pyramid... The flat panels between the mail supports offer ideal surfaces to be decorated with scenes from the Buddha´s life or from the Jataka Tales, the intriguing stories of Buddha´s last ten incarantions before he was born Prince Gautama and reached Enlightenment."