Owner: HWMC
Catalog#: 2AS-IDST-84
Provenance: Dr. Fraser Wilson, Charleston, South Carolina. He was a Life Trustee of Historic Charleston Foundation. As a Life Trustee of Historic Charleston Foundation, he opened his home for house tours for 39 years. Dr. Wilson was appointed to the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion Commission by six South Carolina State Governors.
Gongs
Thailand ‘Temple' Gong
Thailand
Thai
Metal, gilded gold, wood, fabric
ca. 19th century
Diameter: 13.5 in
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Gongs
This is a magnificent Southeast Asian lacquered and gilded temple gong from Thailand. It has a central raised boss and is decorated in gilded gold with seated temple guards on top and bottom and demon guardians on both sides with scrolling flame-like foliage throughout the front and sides. The Buddhist demon guardians flanked on both sides are known as Yaksha or in Thai are simply called Yak or Yuk (giant). They are considered Buddhist gods that protect against evil spirits. They were fierce but benevolent nature spirits introduced to Buddhism from Hinduism.
This gong is reflective of the Ayutthaya period of the 17th century in Thailand characterized by Buddha figures with decorations of gold leaf in free-form designs on a lacquered background.