Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2014-0002-0008A,B   CAS 2014-0002-0008A,B; Prayer vessel
Category Ceremonial Items
Object Name Prayer vessel
Culture Tibetan
Global Region South-Central Asia
Country Tibet or Nepal
State/Prov./Dist. Unknown
County Unknown
Other Geographic Data Unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture Early to mid 1900s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Metal: Silver; Jade; Turquoise; Coral; Garnet
Description Small round votive cup made primarily of sheet silver with low footed pedestal attached to rounded base; On interior, vessel is straight sided, but on exterior the sides appear to flare outward from the base to a jade ring that encircles the vessel at mid-level height, then slope inward again before rising straight up to the rim; Above and below the jade ring are bands of fine filigree work, accented with small coral and turquoise stones, as well as several bands of small embossed figures; Separate domed lid has short lip that fits inside of rim of cup and is surmounted by finial in the shape of a lotus bud; Row of 13 small oval turquoise stones and a second row of 8 garnet stones cover the shoulder of the lid, with a narrow band of embossed leaves encircling the outermost edge of the lid.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 6.1, Rim Diam = 5.5, Max Diam = 7.9