bookcover with two birds

painted and gilded wood
Tibet, 13th cent.
size: 80,5 x 31 x 4 cm; 4 cm thick

large and heavy bookcover. In the center the two birds (peacocks or geese?), with their necks intertwined; this is an old central-Asian motive, found frequently in Tibetan wood- and metalwork.
Remarkable is that the carving at the short side continues with two kirtimukhas on both long sides!