Rare Western Tibetan Horse Saddle as Used by the Kampa Horsemen

A Rare Western Tibetan Horse Saddle as Used by the Kampa Horsemen
The Wood Frame Inlaid with Green Stained and Plain Ivory and Copper Wire to Resemble Prunus Blossom the Borders Edged with Shagreen and Copper Strips Red lacquering to the underside
Damages to inlay
Old smooth patina to saddle
19th Century

Size: 41cm high, 42.5cm wide, 56cm deep - 16cm high, 16¾ ins wide, 22 ins deep

Provenance:
Ex Private collection of the late Sarah Charles

In the high mountains of the Tibetan plateau in Western Tibet the traditional Yushu horse racing festival takes place from 25th July to 1st August every year. Great feats of athletic competitive horsemanship take place with the Kampa spurring their mounts into a full gallop carrying ancient rifles which they twirl around their heads, bring down to a firing position and aim to blow a hole in a 9 inch square of white paper sticking out of the ground. Others do handstands bareback on their horses at great speed, or hang headfirst from the saddle trying to grab as many scarves as they can off the ground as they race past. The Kampa are renowned for being the toughest and most warlike of the peoples of Tibet and they are the only ones to offer any serious resistance to the Chinese ‘liberation’.