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Waist ornament

Waist ornament

  • Place of origin:

    Lhasa (made)

  • Date:

    late 19th century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Silver, silver-gilt,turquoise and precious stones-rubies and sapphires.

  • Museum number:

    IM.385:1, 2, A-1914

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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This ornament was worn on special occasions by noblewomen in Lhasa. It hung at the back of the body at waist level. The central motif of the upper central plaque is the 'Wish Fulfilling Jewel', a magical gem believed to grant all worldly and spiritual wishes. Each link of the chains is in the form of a dorje or 'thunderbolt sceptre' signifying the enlightened mind.

Physical description

Sets of parallel silver chains linking two central plaques covered with turquoise and precious stones. The upper plaque is decorated with a representation of the "Wish Fulfilling Jewel", or yid zhin norbu, here shown by a setting of three turquoises and a green beryl. Each of the multiple chain links are in the form of miniature dorjes or 'diamond sceptres'.

Place of Origin

Lhasa (made)

Date

late 19th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Silver, silver-gilt,turquoise and precious stones-rubies and sapphires.

Dimensions

Length: 48 cm

Object history note

Purchased from Imre Schwaiger.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

John Clarke: Jewellery of Tibet and Himalayas, V&A Publications ISBN 1 85177 4238, 2004, page77, no.60.

Materials

Silver; Turquoise; Sapphire; Rubies; Beryl

Collection code

SSEA

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Qr_O90365
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