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Tibetan Repoussé Traveling Shrine, c. 1850

About the Item

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, Buddhist followers may have purchased this intricate gau while on religious pilgrimage to a temple or holy site. The brass shrine is decorated in repoussé with the cintamani, or jewel of immortality, a wrathful demon, and the eight auspicious signs, including the wheel, the lotus, and the golden fish. These intricate symbols surround a central glass panel displaying a small polychromed Buddhist deity held within the shrine.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Width: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
  • Style:
    Tibetan (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Brass,Silk,Repoussé
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1850
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BJBB042A1stDibs: LU820031242652
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