Tibetan Pair of Fine Gilded Silver Belt Ornaments (Lochab) & Tinder Pouch & Striker (Mechag)

This beautiful pair of belt ornaments (lochab), which would have been worn by a woman,  is of gilded silver. Each is worked with a scrolling lotus motif in high relief and set with a central stone cabochon – one is green and the other red. Each terminates with a dragon’s head which grips in its teeth a suspension loop, also beautifully worked with a pair of dragon heads.

Leather straps from these are attached to a leather tinder pouch and iron striker known as a mechag, with iron mounts and red textile trim.

The belt hooks themselves are attached to long, broad leather straps with red textile mid-sections.

Such belt ornaments were worn suspended from a waist belt usually on the occasions of festivals.

There is some loss to the red textile of one of the wide straps but otherwise the ensemble is in excellent condition and wit obvious age and good patina.