Tibetan Gau (or Ghau) Box
An exceptional antique Tibetan gilded copper circular gau, or amulet box, of large size with covered circular opening on one side; the box is decorated with twelve reticulated cartouches with alternating designs of dragon and makura heads, the cartouches interspersed with pieces of coral and turquoise, the circular cover decorated with a figure of the goddess Tara (saviour-goddess of compassion and protection), surrounded by a wide band of sacred sanskrit characters inset with pieces of turquoise. The flat underside is embellished with stylized "dorje" design. Provenance: purchased from Charolette Horstmann; 1986
- Period
- c.1780
- Origin
- Tibet
- Dimensions
- 4.5" h x 14.5" diam
- 11.4cm h x 36.8cm diam
- Item #
- LB311