Amulet Box
1800-1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This amulet box or ga'u was used to hold rolled prayers and other blessed or holy objects believed to protect the wearer from evil. The front of the box is embellished with the Namchu Wangden--the 'Sign of the All Powerful Ten'--a monogram composed of ten intertwined syllables in the archaic Lantsa script that together represent the elements of the universe according to the Kalachakra Tantra. This is regarded as a powerfully protective emblem.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Copper and silver, with inset turquoises |
| Brief description | Ritual, metal turquoise |
| Physical description | An amulet box or ga'u in the shape of a shrine with ogee top. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | The central emblem on this amulet is the powerfully protective Namechu Wangden, 'Sign of All Poerful Ten', a monogram combing ten interwined syllables in Lantsa script that together represent the elemnts of the universe. Each letter corresponds simultaneously to a part of the mandala of the human body and to cosmic forces. Crowning it is the sun/moon and flame symbol, nyi da, abbreviated here to a single flame, that symbolizes enlightenment. |
| Production | Probably central or southern Tibet |
| Summary | This amulet box or ga'u was used to hold rolled prayers and other blessed or holy objects believed to protect the wearer from evil. The front of the box is embellished with the Namchu Wangden--the 'Sign of the All Powerful Ten'--a monogram composed of ten intertwined syllables in the archaic Lantsa script that together represent the elements of the universe according to the Kalachakra Tantra. This is regarded as a powerfully protective emblem. |
| Bibliographic reference | John Clarke: Jewellery of Tibet and Himalayas, V&A Publications
ISBN 1 85177 4238, 2004, page 32, no.19. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 06125(IS) |
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| Record created | December 15, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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