Tibetan Woman’s Pouch or Purse (Baghu) with Silver, Gilt & Turquoise

This leather pouch or purse (baghu) would have been worn by a Tibetan woman on her belt as a sign of wealth and prestige.

The front of the purse has a leather flap secured underneath with a small catch to hold the purse closed.

The front flap and lower sides are decorated with applied silver plaques, all finely worked with Himalayan scrollwork in high relief, and which form an outer border, all around a central gilded plaque similarly worked, and with three high, box settings all set with turquoise cabochon chips.

The reverse is decorated with more applied silver plaques in the form of flowers, all beautifully worked in relief.

The sides are decorated with a long silver strip engraved with leafy scrolls against a tooled background.

That the reverse and sides have been richly ornamented rather than having been left plain as with other examples shows that this item was a particularly refined piece intended for a wealthy client.

A silver loop and mount is applied to the top of the purse. The mount is chased with more fine scrollwork. A silver loop at the base of the purse would have allowed for more attachments.

The purse is in excellent condition with obvious age and wear.