Tibet/Nepal Gilded Silver Belt Ornament

Parcel Gilded Chased Belt Ornament with Turquoise & Coral

This large belt ornament (lochab) which might also have served as a kind of chatelaine is of finely chased silver with parcel gilding (partial gold plating). The decoration includes deer and elephants along with Himalayan Buddhistic symbols amid interlocking and scrolling flowers and foliage.

The Himalayan symbols have been separately made, gilded, and attached to the ornament by means of copper pins.

The ornament is further decorated with two turquoise cabochons and four coral cabochons in raised box settings, and these are similarly attached with copper pins.

It has a hook at one end and a silver ring at the other to permit it to be attached to the clothing or to a sash or belt.

Possibly the product is of Nepalese and more particularly Newar craftsmen for the Tibet market, or made in Tibet itself. Clarke (2004, p. 88-9) reports that such ornaments were worn in Eastern Tibet.

It is in excellent condition.

See Clarke (2004, p. 88-9) for similar belt ornaments.

Clarke, J., Jewellery of Tibet and the Himalayas, V&A Publications, 2004.

private collection, France.