Tibetan Repoussé Traveling Shrine, c. 1850

Tibetan traveling shrines, known as Gau, were believed to offer protective powers and were used to hold and carry sacred objects during long journeys. Crafted over a century ago, a B...

Lavishly decorated with repoussé, auspicious Buddhist symbols, and a bit of coral, this 19th century silver needle case was once filled with the nee...

This elaborate chain of repoussé charms and tools is a traditional Chinese grooming kit, intricately worked of silver alloy with fantastic detail. Much like a Victorian chatelaine, a...

This curious Chinese jewelry chain dates to the early 20th century and is strung with an array of petite bells, charms and amulets. Worked of gilded silver alloy, the repoussé charms are laden with blessings and symbolism, including fruits for abundance, bats for happiness, and a lotus for perfection. The chain is strung with three larger charms of a horse, a donkey and a three-legged toad, the mythical creature known as the Jin Chan, or Money Toad...

A large antique Tibetan Buddha shrine or prayer box (also known as Gau) which encases a painted terracotta Buddha figure, all wrapped in a hand embroidered quilted silk brocade. This was used as traveling shrine and carried on one's person when away from home. Beginning with the “om” written on the left hand side of this traveling shrine, an itinerant Tibetan monk once traced his fingers clockwise over the embossed characters. As he did this, he recited "om ma ni padh mey hum," the universal Tibetan Buddhist prayer for the well-being of all sentient beings. Known as a Gau, this portable shrine...

This is a water ewer used in Tibetan ritual offerings to the "hungry ghosts". They have been reborn so, as a result of greed and avarice and are condemned to wander as spirits with b...

Tibetan Traveling Prayer Shrine Gau. A large antique Tibetan Buddha shrine or prayer box (also known as Gau) which would encases a Buddha figure...

Antique Bronze bell or Cymbal, hand hammered - Tibet - half XIX century - can be hung from the ceiling, hanging and hitting it. CYMBAL is a percussion instrument. Now it is used in m...