Regal Insignia

The featured word gyal – རྒྱལ has a dignified quality in Tibetan. It can be translated as simply king, royal or regal, but it can also mean to be victorious, to overcome, conqueror or to prevail.

This piece called Regalia was seen and inspired as an insignia by the now late Queen of fashion Isabella Blow, who commissioned a similar piece in royal blue that was exhibited along with a marvellous display of the most extraordinary hats of Philip Treacy. The exhibition was launched during 2002 at the Design Museum in London and toured the world with the blue Regalia piece for several years after.

It is one of the earliest surviving calligraphy pieces from the beginnings of Tashi’s career as a professional artist, discovered forgotten below other artworks in a plan-chest of his studio.

Issued with this artwork is a Certificate of Authentication with description, which serves as provenance, as well as a receipt of value for insurance purposes.