Oboe; rgya-gling

Rgya-gling, one of a pair of oboes (with Horniman Museum number 24.8.56/41). The wooden body has a conical bore and is covered at the proximal end by a brass ferrule approximately 40mm long. Above this sits a brass disc with embossed designs. The staple bisects two pierced brass spheres, surmounted by a slightly domed priouette that is attached by a chain to the lower disc. The bell is made of copper with brass decorations. It is made in two sections with the uppermost evenly conical, and the lower with a curved flare. There are embossed brass ferrules around the top and between the two sections. A bell rim formed from a separate piece of metal 4 mm wide is nailed round the outside. The inside of the bell shows marks from having been hammered on an anvil or mandrel. There are also three brass plates around the flared section. The plate on the front is in the shape of a flame with six small spheres superimposed on it, perhaps representing the three jewels triratna or dkon-mchog gsum of the Buddha. The other plates are flower shaped, each with a small central copper ring for the attachment of a larger ring. There are seven roughly equidistant circular finger holes separated by eight brass rings, and a small thumbhole on the reverse. The second ring from the top (between the first and second finger holes) is pierced for the thumbhole.