A large copper portable shrine or gau with a hand painted image of the female protector Palden Lhamo. 98 mm x 80 mm x 15 mm

 

Above: Dorje Palmo or Vajravarahi with a garland of skulls. 

Copper with faint traces of gilt. 12th Century. 5.9 cm x 3.9cm

The Dorje Palmo shown above is one of my favourite pieces housed in The Ashmoleum Museum in Oxford, England. They have a wonderful collection and it is well worth paying them a visit.  Dorje Palmo (also Phagmo) or Vajravarahi is seen in her typical dancing posture and wears a garland of human skulls. The head of a female pig can clearly be seen protruding from her own head. This symbolises the complete dispelling of ignorance.

A 13th to 14th century Phurba, currently housed in The Ashmoleum Museum in Oxford, UK.

A Bhutia woman, Sikhim. Wearing several 

necklaces comprised of coral, amber, dZi 

and gau amulets. c.1868 to 1875

A very small copper statue of an unknown Tibetan guru. One hand is in the earth touching mudra and the other appears to be holding a dharma text. Faint traces of gilt remain. This rupa may have been placed inside a gau (portable shrine) or possibly housed inside another statue or stupa. The underside is hollow to allow for the placement of sacred substances and mantras. 27.63 mm x 18.75 mm

 

A Sikhote-Alin meteorite from Eastern Siberia. 

This piece reminds me of a Garuda. 68 mm x 42 mm.

Vajra or Dorje. 26.07 mm x 13 mm

Old mala counters with cloud design.

"Namchak Ter Phurba discovered by Nyang Ral Nyima Ozer, which belonged to Lama Gonpo Tseten Rinpoche, given to him as an offering by HH the XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet." A Ter or Terma is a treasure believed to be hidden by Padmasambhava. Namchak literally means 'Sky Metal' and so this Phurba is believed to be made from meteorite.

A small antique bronze/brass gau. 24 mm x 19 mm.

Copper alloy Tsa Tsa mold depicting Green Tara. 70 mm x 54 mm

 

A Tibetan man wears a round silver ornament in his hair, embossed with concentric elements that perhaps represent the petals of a lotus flower.

These three thokcha (with display card) can be found in the Men-Tsee-Khang Materia Medica museum in Dharamasala, India. The museum was inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1997.

Melong amulet. 40 mm

Kangling (thigh bone trumpet) thokcha. This is an interesting piece that possibly once belonged to a statue of Padampa Sangye. 57 mm x 13 mm

Vajra thokcha 39 mm x 11 mm

Vajra thokcha 40 mm x 13 mm

An old set of silver bell and dorje mala counters.

This piece displays two dragon-like smiling heads.
58 mm x 17 mm

Garuda or Khyung thokcha 32 mm x 35 mm

Flaming jewel or norbu thokcha 

14 mm x 9 mm

Armor plate thokcha 68 mm x 68 mm

Yak thokcha 16 mm x 18 mm

Horse thokcha 24 mm x 15 mm

Horse and rider thokcha 34 mm x 27 mm

Vajrapani thokcha  43 mm x 34 mm

Double vajra thokcha 49 x 39 mm

Very large ring with swirling petals 

44 mm

Five pronged vajra thokcha. Some of the
original gilt remains on this piece. 

27 mm x 12 mm

Astrological Melong Amulet with peacock. 

74 mm x 47 mm

A snow lion fibula. 30 mm x 19 mm