Ulaanbaatar
The two lotus flower sculptures
Art & Culture
Bayankhongor /MONTSAME/. A lotus flower in full bloom that is currently being kept at the Museum of Bayankhongor aimag. The sculpture was commissioned by the 5th Lama Gegeen Luvsanperenlei togmid. As the religious figure owned a golden bowl as well as a figure of the White Old Man made with coral beads, he commissioned craftsman E.Sambuu for a box to contain the valuable items.
The flower crafted by the craftsman is made of brass then coated with gold. Aside from having a lock button, it automatically closes when a 1 kg item is placed on top.
With each of the Eight Auspicious Offerings on its eight petals, the lotus flower sculpture is separated into three parts. Alongside various patterns such as flowers, leaves, and clouds, the stem also has patterns of flowers and clouds as well as horn-like patterns. It weighs 3,155 grams with a width of 9.7 cm and height of 28 cm.
Although it is said that there were originally eight lotus flower sculptures, currently, there are only two being kept at the aimag museum alongside a separate petal, while the core section of another sculpture is being kept at the Local Studies Hall of Khureemaral soum. However, there are no records of what source the latter artifact was obtained from in 1975.
The flower sculpture currently being kept at the Museum of Bayankhongor aimag was purchased by former museum director L.Yundenbat from a citizen of Erdenetsogt soum named Nergui for MNT 400 in 1961.
