Circular box

Dateca. 1801-1900

Label TextAlthough gold was prized more than silver in Nepal and Tibet, the sheer size of this box and its lavish use of pearls and lapis lazuli make it a luxurious item. The finely worked silver around the lid’s jeweled center includes a wide inner band depicting a range of auspicious creatures. The outer band mimics a garland of skulls (kapalamala) worn by certain deities and used as a rosary in Tantric Buddhism.

Object number65.100

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, A Bead Quiz, July 1, 2008 - July 1, 2009. Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing.

Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection

Dimensions8 1/2 in. (21.59 cm) Diam.: 2 7/8 in.

MediumSilver, gold, red velvet, garnets, turquoise, pearls, glass, rock crystal, and semiprecious stones