Tibet, 17th - 18th century. The white shell decorated with a silver mask of Kirtimukha with bulging eyes, and mounted with a copper, silver, and bronze mouthpiece and shaft attached to a curved wing decorated with three ornate bands, the copper band with mythical beasts alternating with deities, and auspicious symbols, the silver band with a sinuous dragon chasing a flaming pearl, and the bronze band enclosing the eight Buddhist emblems and blossoms. The rim inlaid beside the shell in turquoise and coral, and the mouthpiece with lotus scrolls and petals. The reverse of the shaft wing with Tibetan inscriptions of mantras and auspicious wishes, and a loop attached to the lower end.
Provenance: Galerie Hardt (established in 1976), Radevormwald, Germany, before 2020. Acquired by the gallery’s founder Peter Hardt (b. 1946) during his extensive travels in Asia, the first of which occurred during a formative world tour in 1973. Throughout his storied career, Peter Kienzle-Hardt organized countless exhibitions and participated in major international art fairs. He made many important contacts during this time and eventually met the Kienzle siblings, who shared his passion for Asian art and culture. A strong bond and deep friendship developed, ultimately leading to the creation of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst decades later in 2014. While the museum’s permanent exhibition predominantly comprised pieces from the Kienzle Family Collection, Peter Kienzle-Hardt supplemented it with objects from his own collection. Before his death in 2019, Horst Kienzle bequeathed his entire property to Peter and legally adopted him as his son, who has been using the name Peter Kienzle-Hardt ever since.
Condition: Good condition with some wear and manufacturing irregularities, a small bruise to the shell, surface scratches, small losses and old repairs to the mount, minor dents, some of the inlays possibly renewed.
Weight: 2 kg
Dimensions: Length 35 cm
The conch shell (Tibetan: ‘dung’), a symbol of the voice of the Buddha, represents the transmission of Buddhist teachings. This conch trumpet is both an auspicious symbol and a ritual implement in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. During ritual performances, it is used as a musical instrument and as a container for water. The elaborate decoration of real conch shells, such as the present example, became prominent in the seventeenth century.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related Tibetan gilt silver inlaid conch trumpet, 23.8 cm long, dated 17th-19th century, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S2003.1. Compare a related gilt copper inlaid ritual trumpet from Tibet, 44 cm long, dated 18th-19th century, in the British Museum, registration number 1992,1214.16.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams Paris, 15 December 2022, lot 186
Price: EUR 6,120 or approx. EUR 6,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silver repoussé mounted conch trumpet, Tibet or Mongolia, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form and decorations. Note the silver material and lack of inscriptions as well as the size (46 cm). Also note the later dating.
Tibet, 17th - 18th century. The white shell decorated with a silver mask of Kirtimukha with bulging eyes, and mounted with a copper, silver, and bronze mouthpiece and shaft attached to a curved wing decorated with three ornate bands, the copper band with mythical beasts alternating with deities, and auspicious symbols, the silver band with a sinuous dragon chasing a flaming pearl, and the bronze band enclosing the eight Buddhist emblems and blossoms. The rim inlaid beside the shell in turquoise and coral, and the mouthpiece with lotus scrolls and petals. The reverse of the shaft wing with Tibetan inscriptions of mantras and auspicious wishes, and a loop attached to the lower end.
Provenance: Galerie Hardt (established in 1976), Radevormwald, Germany, before 2020. Acquired by the gallery’s founder Peter Hardt (b. 1946) during his extensive travels in Asia, the first of which occurred during a formative world tour in 1973. Throughout his storied career, Peter Kienzle-Hardt organized countless exhibitions and participated in major international art fairs. He made many important contacts during this time and eventually met the Kienzle siblings, who shared his passion for Asian art and culture. A strong bond and deep friendship developed, ultimately leading to the creation of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst decades later in 2014. While the museum’s permanent exhibition predominantly comprised pieces from the Kienzle Family Collection, Peter Kienzle-Hardt supplemented it with objects from his own collection. Before his death in 2019, Horst Kienzle bequeathed his entire property to Peter and legally adopted him as his son, who has been using the name Peter Kienzle-Hardt ever since.
Condition: Good condition with some wear and manufacturing irregularities, a small bruise to the shell, surface scratches, small losses and old repairs to the mount, minor dents, some of the inlays possibly renewed.
Weight: 2 kg
Dimensions: Length 35 cm
The conch shell (Tibetan: ‘dung’), a symbol of the voice of the Buddha, represents the transmission of Buddhist teachings. This conch trumpet is both an auspicious symbol and a ritual implement in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. During ritual performances, it is used as a musical instrument and as a container for water. The elaborate decoration of real conch shells, such as the present example, became prominent in the seventeenth century.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related Tibetan gilt silver inlaid conch trumpet, 23.8 cm long, dated 17th-19th century, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S2003.1. Compare a related gilt copper inlaid ritual trumpet from Tibet, 44 cm long, dated 18th-19th century, in the British Museum, registration number 1992,1214.16.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams Paris, 15 December 2022, lot 186
Price: EUR 6,120 or approx. EUR 6,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silver repoussé mounted conch trumpet, Tibet or Mongolia, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form and decorations. Note the silver material and lack of inscriptions as well as the size (46 cm). Also note the later dating.
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Auction: A Museum Treasury of Buddhist and Himalayan Art: The Peter Kienzle-Hardt Collection Part I, 7th Mar, 2025
This treasury of art, assembled over decades by the Kienzle siblings and perserved by their sole heir Peter Kienzle-Hardt, reflects not only their fascination with Asian culture but also their respect for the heritage of the regions they explored. Learn more.
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