Tibetan Copper Traveling Shrine

A shrine you could take on the road, with its blessings bolted to the doors.

This traveling shrine comes from Tibet and dates to the early 20th century. It is gilded copper, silver and wood. Small portable shrines allowed Tibetan Buddhists to carry sacred images and devotional objects on a journey. Silver auspicious symbols, including an endless knot, a conch and paired fish, sit on pierced lattice panels in its two doors. Gilded letters run up both sides and across the top. A chain and sliding bar close the front, on small pierced feet. It stands 9 inches high.

Faith travels light, though it does prefer good hardware.