Iron Silver and brass with Stones

Tibet , 18th century

Weight: 518 grams

These items were attached to the belt and were essential to survive on long journeys in the remote Himalayas and Tibetan plateau. The pouch is called meech and holds the flint and cotton needed to make a fire as well as an iron striker to ignite it. The inner reserve is decorated with three flowers with large stone inlays surrounded by a beaded frame with ornamental sprays and flowers. The wallet has the shape of a shell with one large stone inlay as flower bud in the center, two silver flowers above it and one seemingly missing on the other side. The elongation of the wallet is almond-shaped with a large stone in the center, the face of a kirtimukha on the bottom. This set made of leather, brass, silver and various stone beads is a unique piece.