Bhutanese Silver Ga’u Box

Large, Spherical Woman’s Silver Ga’u

Bhutan

This large, hand-beaten silver woman’s, bowl-shaped ga’u or amulet or relic box, is from Bhutan. It is chased to the front with a central double dorje (sacred thunderbolt). The overall shape if of a flattened sphere with the two halves (front and back) each being hemi-spherical.

At the top is a three-part, interlocking necklace tube. A second

dorje with a loop underneath on which to hang another ga’u, is at the bottom.

The rims of the two halves are edged with pearled silver wire. These have been worn smooth from wear.

The

ga’u is in fine condition with softened contours from age and handling. It retains a segment of old leather strap which was once used to suspend it.

Such

ga’us were worn by Bhutanese as talismanic or protective devices. They contained an assortment of items deemed to have protective value, including small pieces of paper inscribed with Tibetan mantras, small seashells and so on.

Beer, R., The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, Serindia, 2004.

Levenberg, L., pers. comm., August 2016.

Proser, A., (ed.),

Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art, Asia Society Museum/Yale University Press, 2010.

private collection, UK.