Amulet Trail: Gau, Tibet

PRM 1991.17.39

This turquoise-encrusted silver box ('gau') was worn around the neck and would contain sacred substances or prayers and mantras written on paper. A gau might be round, square or door-shaped, and made of beaten bronze or silver, studded with gems. All classes of Tibetan people wore protective amulets, rich and poor alike. Among the simplest were woven textile pouches attached to a cord necklace.

Wife of Tendong Dzongpon, Governor of Gyantse, Tibet.
She wears a gau amulet at her neck and other jewellery of turquoise, jade, pearls, coral and gold.
Photo by Frederick Spencer Chapman, 1936-37. PRM 1998.157.87