Central Asia, Tibet, ca. 19th to mid-20th century CE. A devotional prayer wheel for handheld use, made from bovine bone, glass, brass, and wood. The body is cylindrical piece of bone that is carved with upper and lower register of geometric motifs. Encircling the center is a brass band that is decorated with enamel inlays of red and blue. The base and top of the bone is capped by brass finials and a wooden knob atop a brass pin that extends through the bone and attaches to a wood handle. The brass finial cap can be shifted horizontally to reveal the interior and contained inside the bone cylinder is an original paper prayer stamped in black ink. The drum-like body has an attached chain with a wooden disc on its end for making sound when rotated. Spinning the wheel is believed to have the same effect as chanting the prayer. Size: 10.25" L x 1.6" W (26 cm x 4.1 cm); 10.5" H (26.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Robert Sommers collection, California, USA

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#164581

The brass finial, wood knob, central brass band, and lower brass cap are all loose and not completely secure. Wooden handle is also loose. All is stable enough to stand upright and display, but not recommended for use. Abrasions to bone and wood. Chips to enamel inlays. Patina on brass. Prayer is on delicate paper and cannot be easily accessed and likely dates to 20th century.