Tibetan Woman’s Ga’u Box with Silver, Gilt, Amber & Turquoise

This fine ga’u box is of a type known as a khedi in Lhasa and would have been worn by a Tibetan woman. It is a larger example than is usual.

It comprises two halves that fit together: a silver front and a copper back.

Of oval form with rounded contours, it has a hammered silver front that has been chased in high relief with Himalayan scrollwork around a good-sized central amber cabochon in a high, gilded box setting. In turn, the amber has been set with a triangular turquoise chip. The front is further embellished with a beautiful section of heavy gilding.

The lower edge of the box is decorated with a stylised thunderbolt emblem. The top has a long silver tube (over a well-worn wooden base) through which a cord would have been threaded to allow the ga’u to be suspended from the neck.

The back comprises hammered copper sheet.

Ga’us functioned as talismanic or protective devices and would enclose items such as mantras written on small scraps of paper and other such things that would help protect the wearer from all manner of ills and dangers.

This box is in fine condition with plenty of wear and obvious age.