Antique Tibetan Gau, or portable shrine, in a metal repousse container with imagery of lotuses and various figures, within is a deity behind a small glass window. Directly below the deity is the face of Kirtimukha, a common image in Southeast Asian temples. The box is secured within a pouch woven of cotton and silk, with a long strap and small stone clasps. 19th century.

Size: 3.5" L x 3" W x 1.25" H (length of strap 20" hanging)

Antique Tibetan Gau, or portable shrine, with a small statue of Buddha inside behind a window of glass, padded with old fabric. The wooden box has remnants of old red lacquer, and the back opens so that the Buddha may be removed. 19th century.

Size: 3.25" L x 2.5" W 4.25" H

The Tibetan leather flint pouch (aka strike a light) is properly known as a "mechag" (me = fire , chag = iron) or fire iron. This Tibetan flint pouch is decorated with ornate silver and bronze ornamentation with an inset red bead which appears to be a replacement for the original bead. The pouch would have been secured to the wears belt with the attached leather strap.

This is large strike a light ...the strike plate spans 6.5 inches and the purse including handle is 5 inches high...an wide...

Hanging from the belt on a leather strap, the stylized milking hook was the essential item of ornamentation for any Tibetan woman properly dressed for a festival. Surrounding the hook surface is a heavy etched silver band. The bronze/brass hook has is etched with markings and is inset with 5 large beads, set in silver bezels. The original leather strap shows lots of wear.

These ceremonial hooks have become hard to obtain. The hook alone measures 5.5 inches long and the strap adds anothe...

The mystical Dzi beads are implements of ancient Tibetan and other Asian cultures for several hundreds of thousands of years. Dzi beads are believed to hold magical properties bringing prosperity and protection to whomever wore these beads. The butterscotch agate Dzi bead has natural dragon veining, with patterns of 4 white "heavenly eyes" thought to overcome negative forces, clears obstacles, increases merits & longevity, subdue demons. This is an old bead but dating is undetermined.
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Antique Tibetan Dzi bead, agate with single white band. The mystical Dzi beads are implements of ancient Tibetan and other Asian cultures for several hundreds of thousands of years. Dzi beads are believed to hold magical properties bringing prosperity and protection to whomever wore these beads. They are also thought to hold medicinal properties, and so can be characterized by the "dig marks" left over the surface of the bead, where a small portion has been scraped away to be ingested.

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Antique 19th century Tibetan, huge Drinking Horn used to hold and dispense Chhaang or barley beer. The slightly curved large horn body mounted with four brass mounts each hammered and finely repoussed with Ruyi heads and roiling waves ornaments and fitted with three suspension loops. The wider end has been plugged with a disk of wood. The other end has been similarly plugged but leaving a small hole from which the liquid can be poured.

Chhaang is a Tibetan beer brewed from barley, millet o...

This is a Tibetan Ritual Celestial Crown also know as a Diadem or Ringga. It is worn by a necromancer or oracle during rituals. The "crown" consists of 5 separate paintings on paper and each painting is backed with thin cardboard for stiffness. The sections are connected with string. When worn, the crown is tied around the head with string. The sections are painted with the five Dhayani, celestial Buddhas, each painted with his traditional color and gesture. Each section is 4 wide by 6.5 h...

Rare Tibetan antique skull drum called a damaru (or damru). Two skulls make up the two sided drum connected in the middle. Two small beads at the end of thin cords attached in the center beat the drum when it held upright and twisted. A long silk sash (chopen) decorated with two tassels and auspicious symbols hangs from the center. The damaru is a sacred instrument adopted from the Hindu tantric practices of ancient India. The damaru is believed to be an instrument of the Lord Shiva with w...

Antique gilt copper repouse 4 piece crown, painted details, each piece has a seated Buddha with different mudra, back is painted deep red, 19th century, on new custom metal stand. Total Size (with stand): 14" high x 14 1/2" wide x 4 1/2" deep.

Antique Tibetan clay statue of wrathful Dorje Shugden mounted on the back of a white lion with an arch of flames around him, painted in polychrome pigments of green, orange, red, yellow, brown, and gilt. The figure seated atop a lion is standard for the Gelug tradition. This figure / deity is considered mischievous by the Dalai Lama. The sect that worships this type of piece is interestingly not recognized by the Dalai Lama. 19th century Size: 8" H, 6" W

Large antique Tibetan chest/trunk painted with a deep red background in front, with a coiled dragon within a large cloud-shaped border. Red and gold painted flowers with long, deep green stems fray out from behind the dragon and reaches inwards from the sides of the chest, with small green birds perching on either side of the dragon. The front of the chest has a black frame with red, gold, and green puffs of smoke, edged with metal hardware shaped like spears, locking in place with n iron hinge ...

Antique Tibetan hand-carved wooden deity mask of Mahakala, a guardian diety, the fierce and powerful being and counterpart to Kali / Mahakali. His name means "Greater than Time" as he upholds ultimate rule and power over all forces, including time and death. This hand carved mask is indeed very fierce looking, with signs of wear and traces of old lacquer all throughout. Some losses.

Age: 19th century

Size: 10" L x 6" W x 11" H

Tibetan Buddhist monks Hand made folded paper with text and amulets. one side mostly with text and amulets on lower section. other side drawn amulet drawings with text This piece was from a collection gathered in Tibet in the late 60's..aged conservatively from the 1800's

Antique Tibetan Buddhist ritualistic bone flute, or kangling. The kangling produces a wailing sound, meant to create a mystical atmosphere during tantric rituals. It is played as a gesture of fearlessness and as a way of cutting off the ego. With silver mounts intricately decorated with floral motifs and dragons, inlaid with turquoise. Provenance Ashby Collection.

Dates from 19th century Dimensions: 8 1/2" l x 2 1/2" w

Antique Tibetan Buddhist ritualistic bone flute, or kangling. The kangling produces a wailing sound, meant to create a mystical atmosphere during tantric rituals. It is played as a gesture of fearlessness and as a way of cutting off the ego. With silver mounts intricately decorated with floral scrolls and inlaid with turquoise and coral. Provenance Ashby Collection

19th century Dimensions: 12 1/4" L x 3" W

Tibetan repousse copper polychrome mask of Yamataka , a horned yak headed deity wearing a crown of three skulls on its head. Gold gilt ground and painted pigment accentuate the expression of the Yamataka mask.

Yamataka is a violent aspect of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, who assumes this form to vanquish Yama, the god of death. By defeating Yama, the cycle of rebirth (samsara) that prevents enlightenment is broken.

Yamakata, who shares many attributes with Mahakala, ...

This Tibetan shrine shaped gau (aka prayer box) is actually a religious shrine. When not being worn as an ornament during festivals, it would be kept in the prayer niche of the family home. The back of the box slides open. Frequently, a special prayer i.e. sutra pages would be placed inside. The small glass window at the front displays a Tsa tsa, which is a clay statue of a Buddhist Diety. These statues were made only by the monks and considered to be a holy relic. This antique gau has a f...