Woman's Silver Filigree Amulet Box (Ga'u) with Turquoise
Lhasa, Tibet
circa 1900
height: 9.5cm, width: 9.4cm
Double-square amulet boxes (ga'us) such as this one were worn
by women and were popular in and around Lhasa. The central
motif of a stylised flower bud infilled with turquoise chips and set
among silver filigree wire is surrounded by motifs featuring more
turquoise chips.
The ga'u was worn suspended from the top gadrooned tube,
which shows considerable wear. The lower decoration is a
stylised dorje ornament which hangs at the bottom when worn.
This ga'u has a silver rather than a copper backing plate.
The turquoise, faux pearl and brass bead strand is an attractive
but later addition.
Reference: a similar ga'u is illustrated in Clarke, J., Jewellery of
Tibet and the Himalayas, V&A Publications, 2004, p. 78.
Inventory no.: 591
See 516 and 556 for other similar ga'us.
Lhasa, Tibet
circa 1900
height: 9.5cm, width: 9.4cm
Double-square amulet boxes (ga'us) such as this one were worn
by women and were popular in and around Lhasa. The central
motif of a stylised flower bud infilled with turquoise chips and set
among silver filigree wire is surrounded by motifs featuring more
turquoise chips.
The ga'u was worn suspended from the top gadrooned tube,
which shows considerable wear. The lower decoration is a
stylised dorje ornament which hangs at the bottom when worn.
This ga'u has a silver rather than a copper backing plate.
The turquoise, faux pearl and brass bead strand is an attractive
but later addition.
Reference: a similar ga'u is illustrated in Clarke, J., Jewellery of
Tibet and the Himalayas, V&A Publications, 2004, p. 78.
Inventory no.: 591
See 516 and 556 for other similar ga'us.
