Amulet Box thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

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
  • Height: 10.3cm
  • Width: 11cm
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 createdDecember 15, 2003
Record URL
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