Cymbal Case with Set of Cymbals
Unknown Artist
late 17th century
Medium
Wood, cloth, metal
Dimensions
Each cymbal: 3 1/8 × 13 5/8 × 13 5/8 in. (7.9 × 34.6 × 34.6 cm) Cymbal case: 8 1/4 × 15 × 15 3/4 in. (21 × 38.1 × 40 cm)
Classification
Accessory
Culture
Chinese (Tibetan)
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Frederick M. Lehman Bequest, 2003
Accession Number
2003.465a–d
Art Historical Context
This exquisite set of Tibetan cymbals, housed in a protective wooden case dates to the late 17th century and the rich material culture of Chinese-influenced Tibetan traditions. Crafted from wood, cloth, and, the pair of cymbals measures 3⅛ × 13⅝ × 13⅝ inches each, while the sturdy case stands at 8¼ × 15 × 15¾ inches. Such instruments were essential accessories in Tibetan Buddhist rituals, where their resonant clash punctuated chants, dances, and ceremonies in monasteries across the Himalayan region. The metal cymbals, likely hand-forged with precision to produce a sustained, piercing tone, ex...