Old Tibetan Silver Plated Buddha Shakyamuni Shrine Box (Ghau) - Nepal / Tibet 19th century, heavy double case of copper alloy silver plated on the outside, shaped as a miniature shrine with two pairs of applied brass lugs to each side to hold a belt or strap, silver layer partly worn, the embossed and engraved front ornamentaly encrusted with all kinds of semi precious stones like turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, rock crystal and some mother-of-pearl elements, slight scuffs and cracks, the wishful jewel Cintamani is shown in the apex above a parcel-gilt chhepu mask, a deity often apearing atop of the entrances of temples and sanctuaries, so that destructive and evil forces can not enter, the central window at the front is of lobed arched form and permitts a full round bronze figure of the Buddha Shakyamuni holding an alms bowl, his right hand performing the earth-witness mudra as a sign of his victory over the tempter Mara, who wanted to keep him from enlightenment, partly green aging patina, H.c.16cm, sealed, weight c.940g, a large-scale mantra engraved to the reverse of the case representing the Kalachara or the ''Wheel of Time'', this ''tenfold powerful mantra'' consists of seven interwoven sacred Lantsa syllables ''Ham Ksha Ma La Va Ra Ya'', as well as the half moon, the full moon moon topped by the ''nada'' or '' tilaka '', flanked by the Lantsa letters'' E ''and'' Vam '' ( the Buddhist principle of the union of method and wisdom), or the unity of emptiness and bliss, inside cloth lining, heavily used, shrine measures / weight: c.36,5x20x10,5cm / c.2800 g, total weight c.3740g Provenance Private Collection Germany