Featured Can't identify Tibetan heavy metal seal with engravings

I thought I'd be able to find similar seals on eBay or etsy. But no luck. I bought this in Lhasa in the early 1990s. It's really heavy at 1 lb 9 oz and has a small metal ball inside that rattles. It's 5 in tall & 1.5 in wide. Any idea of age?

 

The image on the bottom is the Om Mani Padme Hum lotus.
https://boyneinspiredliving.com/six-true-word/

The image is not backwards, so I do not think it's a seal.

 

Not backwards?! Now that’s interesting. I wonder what it could be?

 

Meditiation device of some sort maybe?

 

I think stamp for use with ink rather than seal for making relief impressions.

 

It still would need to be a reversed image.

 

Its shape looks like other seals on the internet, sans the rattle aspect.

I did not find information about a rattle being used in conjunction with meditation. A bell seems to be what's used.

I did see an antique priest's rattle used to ward off evil spirits. It was carved and made from an animal's horn.

It just may be the invention of the souvenir industry? I'm all puzzled-out.

 

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas. It is very heavy at over 1.5 lbs which is unusual for a wax seal or ink stamp (possibly neither). The rattle also is a little mystifying. The two-tone engraving is finely crafted. I’m still having difficulty in figuring out its use.

 

It has koftgari/zogan style overlay of silver wire.The designs were chased and not engraved.

 

Thinking about its hefty weight, I'm wondering if it could in fact be a paperweight for use in reading the many scrolls found in the Tibetan monasteries. I can't see any in the photos attached though.

 

Wow! That's something I would have never figured out.

 

Certainly looks like a stamp/seal. Perhaps @Any Jewelry can explain why the text is not reversed.

 

Trying my best to figure out how to message them as they have a very restricted profile - perhaps because I'm a new member.

 

My tag will hopefully draw her attention, and she will respond here.

 

it's just the way some folks set their info to private////

 

@Falworth I received your message but will reply here. I am hardly here anymore, because replying is increasingly difficult due to damage to the language centre in my brain. I have to rest.
But back to the item, it is not a seal or scroll weight. It is a ritual object, but unfortunately I don't know its exact purpose.
Maybe a Tibetan religious centre near you can help you, there are temples and monasteries dotted around the globe.

On this photo is a similar object in silver, left of centre:
https://www.alamy.com/tibetan-silve...ith-red-coral-turquoise-gau-image8820587.html

Good luck with your search.

 

Thanks for the two key words "scroll weight" and "ritual object". This should help my search.

 

It isn't a scroll weight though. Tibetan scroll weights are long and straight, much like Chinese ones, but usually metal with vajra finials.

 

Please take care Any Jewelry and get the rest you need..