Tibetan Gao or Prayer Box with Cloth Cover

A seated Buddha, raised in metal, and rather serene.

This gao, or prayer box, was made in Tibet in the mid to late 19th century, in copper, silver and cloth. A gao is commonly worn as a portable shrine, with an image or relic inside. The arched front shows a seated Buddha with raised hands on a lotus throne, surrounded by a halo and a ring of floral scrolls, within a beaded border. Small side loops hold the cord. The metal has a warm, dark golden tone, with the highlights rubbed bright.

About five inches tall. Calm, compact, and handsome on a stand.