A HARDSTONES AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID SILVER GAU
Nepal, 19th-20th century

Shaped profile, a mask on the upper side of the lid and inside the graphic representation of the ten-syllable mantra of Kalacakra in silver relief, the inside with the figure of a bodhisattva, the lower side still with lança characters relating to the Kalacakra.

2 x 10,5 x 9 cm

Provenance: Italian private collection.

Kalacakra, literally the "wheel of time", is a term that refers to both texts and deities relating to a specific doctrine of Tantric Buddhism.
This kind of artifact was used as an amulet by the faithful who could take it with him or donate it to a temple. The quality of this specimen is very high, with the stones inserted with meticulous care to form an intricate decorative pattern, further enhanced by the finesse of the gold and silver filigree.
For an example of an artifact of this kind, see M. Ghose (ed.), Vanishing Beauty. Asian Jewelry and Ritual Objects from the Barbara and David Kipper Collection, Chicago 2016, p. 79, n. 77; another similar example is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (J. Huntington - D. Bangdel, The Circle of Bliss. Buddhist Meditational Art, Chicago 2003, p. 207, n 54A: the authors identify the area of realization to Patan in the Kathmandu Valley and propose a dating to the first half of the 19th century).