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ID #SA1239992
FOR SALE
£135
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Silver Buddhist Gau Travelling Prayer Box Shrine
For sale by Rams Head Antiques
for sale €158     $171
£135
Rams Head Antiques

Rams Head Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2014
Browse dealers 321 items
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Id #SA1239992
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Silver Buddhist Gau Travelling Prayer Box Shrine

19th century
Description

This Buddhist Gau travelling shrine prayer box is a traditional Tibetan artefact made of repoussé silver and copper.rine

For sale by

Rams Head Antiques

This Buddhist Gau travelling shrine prayer box is a traditional Tibetan artefact made of repoussé silver and copper.

“

The antique piece serves as a portable shrine, perfect for carrying and using during travel or religious ceremonies.

Sourced from Tibet and dating post-1940, this contemporary piece showcases intricate craftsmanship and spiritual significance. Ideal for collectors of Tibetan antiques or those seeking a unique spiritual item for their journey.

The body is crafted from copper, and the front plate is made of embossed silver and engraved with rich decoration: Along the sides, one can see the eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism), with 'jewels' at the top, and at the bottom center, above a row of lotus leaves, is the face of a demon-repelling and protective 'Kirtimukha'. The entire piece is framed and divided by beaded borders. In the center of the front panel is a 'window' sealed with glass. Behind it sits a small,painted image of a deity, a 'Tsa-Tsa'. These 'Tsa-Tsa' are votive images pressed from clay or mud using molds. Early 20th century. This measures 8.5 cms by 8.5 cms by 3 cms.

UK insured packing and delivery is £5

Declaration

Rams Head Antiques has dated this Tibetan Silver Gau Shrine to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1239992
Dealers Notes

Rams Head Antiques is a family business based in Wolsingham in Weardale where we have had shop premises for 28 years. The shop is generally open every Saturday from 11 am till 3 pm.

You are most welcome to visit the shop but please always check to confirm we are open before travelling. We have been in the antiques trade for well over thirty years now and stock a wide and varied range of antiques and decorative items specialising in carpets and Eastern and Oriental items as well as Georgian and Victorian furniture, mirrors, oil paintings, prints, ceramics and clocks.

We can arrange worldwide delivery on all the items we have in stock, please ask for an accurate quote.

Email:

We offer a full money back guarantee if you are not happy for whatever reason within a seven day period as long as the buyer pays for transportation costs.

Description
“
This Buddhist Gau travelling shrine prayer box is a traditional Tibetan artefact made of repoussé silver and copper.
Rams Head Antiques
Rine

For sale by

Rams Head Antiques

This Buddhist Gau travelling shrine prayer box is a traditional Tibetan artefact made of repoussé silver and copper.

fig 1. A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing.
fig 1. Silver Buddhist Gau Travelling Prayer Box Shrine

“

The antique piece serves as a portable shrine, perfect for carrying and using during travel or religious ceremonies.

Sourced from Tibet and dating post-1940, this contemporary piece showcases intricate craftsmanship and spiritual significance. Ideal for collectors of Tibetan antiques or those seeking a unique spiritual item for their journey.

fig 2. A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing.
fig 2. Silver Buddhist Gau Travelling Prayer Box Shrine

The body is crafted from copper, and the front plate is made of embossed silver and engraved with rich decoration: Along the sides, one can see the eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism), with 'jewels' at the top, and at the bottom center, above a row of lotus leaves, is the face of a demon-repelling and protective 'Kirtimukha'. The entire piece is framed and divided by beaded borders. In the center of the front panel is a 'window' sealed with glass. Behind it sits a small,painted image of a deity, a 'Tsa-Tsa'. These 'Tsa-Tsa' are votive images pressed from clay or mud using molds. Early 20th century. This measures 8.5 cms by 8.5 cms by 3 cms.

UK insured packing and delivery is £5

Date of Manufacture

Rams Head Antiques has dated this Tibetan Silver Gau Shrine to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1239992
Rams Head Antiques
Rams Head Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2014
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Rams Head Antiques Profile Page

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A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing.
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Archive I A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing.

Silver Buddhist Gau Travelling Prayer Box Shrine

Archive II A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing. View II
Archive III A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing. View III
Archive IV A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing. View IV
Archive V A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing. View V
Enlarged Archival View
Rams Head Antiques

Rams Head Antiques
Telephone 07769 255 544
Location
Wolsingham
Weardale
Durham
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/ramsheadantiques
Verified Since Sep 2014
Items For Sale 321
Items Sold 4,321
Rams Head Antiques
Rams Head Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2014
View Dealer Info
Location: Wolsingham, Weardale, Durham, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/ramsheadantiques
Verified
Sep 2014
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321
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A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing.
Silver Buddhist Gau Travelling Prayer Box Shrine
Ref: SA1239992
A Tibetan silver Gau travelling prayer box featuring embossed repousse ornamentation, an arched central niche housing a deity, and a copper casing.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectTravelling Shrine
  • Period19th century
  • StyleTibetan Buddhist
  • MaterialSilver, Copper
  • ColourSilver, Copper
  • MotifsRepousse ornamentation, Arched central niche, Auspicious symbols, Kirtimukha mask

This nineteenth-century Tibetan Buddhist gau travelling prayer box shrine is a portable devotional artefact designed for journeys and rituals. The body uses copper, while the front plate consists of embossed silver finished with a beaded border. The exterior displays repoussé ornamentation, including an arched central niche housing a small painted deity image known as a tsa-tsa behind a glass window. Auspicious symbols appear across the front, alongside a protective kirtimukha mask positioned above lotus leaves at the bottom centre, complemented by side hanging loops. The visible surface shows dark patination in the recessed areas contrasting with polished silver highlights. Measuring 8.5 cm by 8.5 cm by 3 cm, this compact devotional box sits neatly on a bookshelf or display cabinet within a home setting as a decorative sculptural object.

FAQs

A Gau, or Ghau, is a portable shrine or reliquary traditionally used by Tibetan Buddhists during travel. It serves to carry protective amulets, sacred texts, or small statues of deities, offering spiritual protection and a mobile focus for devotion.

Gaus are commonly crafted using a combination of metals, featuring a front plate made from hammered repousse silver, brass, or gilt copper attached to a copper or iron back case. Intricate scrollwork and auspicious symbols are carved or embossed onto the metal face.

Authentic pieces often exhibit signs of genuine age, such as hand-hammered tooling marks, hand-fitted joinery, copper patination, and natural wear around side strap loops. The central window typically houses a consecrated clay, stone, or metal figure surrounded by silk cloth or written prayers.

These metal artefacts function well as accent objects on bookshelves, mantelpieces, or curated display consoles alongside other historical objects. They add textural contrast and cultural depth when paired with clean architectural lines or natural wood finishes.

Gently dust the surface with a soft, dry brush to clean recessed relief carvings without scratching the surface. Avoid harsh chemical polishes or water immersion, as these can strip natural oxidisation and damage internal sacred contents or backing fabrics.
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