Amulet box, Lhasa, ca. early 20th century

Amulet box in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number IM.133&A-1927), made in Lhasa, dated ca. early 20th century. The museum's brief description reads: A silver amulet box of shrine shape with central window surrrounded by the Eight Auspicious Emblems, displaying within a clay relief of the 21 Taras.. Museum description: A large silver amulet box in the shape of a shrine enclosing a stamped clay plaque in the form of the 21 Taras, female goddesses who offer protection from a range of misfortunes. Within the scrollwork are the 'Eight Auspicious Emblems' of Buddhism and below the central window, as an offering to the deities within the 'five Sense Symbols', dod yon nya, comprising sight (mirror), hearing (lute), smell (incense), taste (food) and touch (cloth). At the bottom is the protective monster and sea design and at the top 'Wish Fulfilling Jewel'. The museum records it as Embossed silver and stamped clay, measuring Height 24 cm; Width 18 cm; Depth 8.5 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.