Metallic mystery

So I've unearthed another metallic enigma. It is made from copper with white metal embellishments. No marks. Just mystery. A snuff box perhaps?

 

It is a ghau, an amulet box/prayer box from the Himalayas.
How big is it?

 

Wow. Your depth of knowledge astounds me. How do you know something so obscure?

Dimensions

8.5cm x 7cm x 4cm

 

Wow. I had to look that up. A traveling shrine. Here is one with its own protective padded carrying case and the pictures show all the things that are supposed to be inside. Prayer flags.
https://bearandraven.com/products/t...bric-case?variant=43205616435435&currency=USD

 

It has holes in the top and bottom that go through both halves of it. I guess sacred stringy stuff is put through them to keep it shut. I have Googled it and there are some really nice ones out there. This is a bit crude and you can see where it has been beaten into shape. Still, it gives it character.

 

I only do obscure.

Ghaus can be different sizes, materials and for different purposes. The one you found is a travel shrine, but not all ghaus are. Travel shrines can contain different sacred things. The prayer flags in the one you posted are not antique, the seller may have added them. My parents had a similar travel shrine with a Buddha inside.

Chinoiserie's ghau is meant to be worn as an amulet case, hence the loop. The shape is like that of a travel shrine, but this one would have been worn daily, for protection. It would have held things like a mantra, protective prayers, small rocks or herbs, or fabric with magic properties.

Other ghaus are round or other shapes. There are a few different ghaus in my 'Tibetan jewellery reference' thread:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/tibetan-jewellery-reference.58682/#post-3632306

 

Fascinating info.