Date:19th century
Geography:Tibet
Culture:Tibetan
Medium:Copper, coral, stones
Dimensions:L. 36.8cm (14 1/2in.)
Classification:Aerophone-Lip Vibrated-trumpet / trombone
Credit Line:Gift of Miss Alice Getty, 1946
Accession Number:46.34.70
The thighbone of a lama priest is the original form of the metal trumpets in this case. A single rkang-gling ('leg bone flute') is used with a pellet drum to escape epidemics. Pairs signal the entry of ritual dancers, and perform rituals connected with fierce deities. The head of a chu-srin (Sanskrit: makara), a sea monster or a dragon, often provides a decorative metalwork bell. When the rkang-gling is made of metal, bosses decorated with trefoils cover the joints where the sections of cooper and/or silver tube are joined. The trefoil, a three cusped design, is an emblem of power and authority and is used as the head of a scepter. The chu-srin and dragon are associated with water and rain and may decorate the rkang-gling.