Collection Spotlight

Our substantial collection of Himalayan works of art includes a wide range of personal religious objects that display the ingenuity and artistry of Tibetan craftsmen. Two ga’u or amulet and reliquary boxes on view in our Himalayan Gallery are among the finest examples of Tibetan metalworking. Ga’u are comprised of cast, embossed, and engraved precious metals that are sometimes further embellished with inset turquoise, coral, and pearls.

Ga’u (Portable Shrine), Tibet, 19th century, engraved and repoussé silver and white metal, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Maurice Beugelmans 1992.21.1

These beautifully ornate boxes function as portable shrines worn on long journeys and pilgrimages. Small ga’u are usually tied around the neck by means of a fabric or leather strap threaded through metal loops. Larger ga’u are often worn around the torso, in the way that a canteen might be worn. When the owner is not traveling, ga’u can be placed on an altar in the home.

Some ga’u are thought to provide protective powers, particularly those that contain small statues of the Buddha or other deities, religious texts, relics, or protection threads blessed by lamas or revered teachers. Look closely at the golden ga’u illustrated here and beyond the decorative floral lattice you can see that it contains a statue of the Buddha Amitayus. He holds a vase (believed to contain the elixir of immortality) and rests on a small piece of brocade cloth.

Ga’u (Portable Shrine), Tibet, 18th century, gold, silver, bronze and brocade fragment, Gift of Robert Bentley 1989.62.3

The shape of the larger ga’u clearly suggests its possible function as a shrine. Its overall form suggests that of a mandorla or body halo typically placed behind statues of deities to indicate their exalted status. An example of a mandorla can be seen placed behind the Enthroned Buddha on display in the Himalayan Gallery. The central window of the ga’u is surrounded by a three-tiered pagoda set in a field of lush foliage containing double lotus that support the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism (Sanskrit: ashtamangala, Tibetan: tashi tagye): wheel, banner, parasol, lotus, vase, pair of fish, endless knot, and right-spiraling conch shell.

Religion plays a great role in Tibetan art, and personal belief has informed many of the works of art created by Tibetan artisans through the centuries. These ga’u provide us with an opportunity to admire the intersection of religious belief, personal adornment, and artistic achievements.

Bridget Bray, Assistant Curator/Registrar

Previous Collection Spotlights
Courtesan and Boy Dancing at New Year

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