1: India: a belt in the style of the so-called ‘Hyderabad belt’. Entirely made from the highest-quality silver. Made of two hanks of round woven silver wire held together with silver clamps. With a silver buckle crafted in five cast parts that have elaborate decoration and can be moved thanks to hinges. The central piece of the buckle (with chessboard decoration) has a screw fastening with inverse, English-style screw threads. A piece of magnificent quality. Length: 72 cm (the belt open).

2: Tibet: an ‘astrological calendar’, crafted to be an amulet pendant (with an eyelet at the top). Cast from weak silver alloy in a rectangular, flat shape. The front side is decorated with many sacred and symbolic representations in relief: signs of the Zodiac, objects, inscriptions, animal scenes etc. The reverse features a highly stylised emblem, cast at the same time, depicting a ritual dagger (‘phurbu’), crossed with a ‘dorje’ (diamond sceptre) and other sacred symbols.
Dimensions: 9 cm x 9 cm. Additionally, a ‘dorje’ ritual object (also known as a ‘vajra’ or diamond sceptre), cast in brass. In Tibetan Buddhism (‘Lamaism’), every monk (‘Lama’) holds a ‘dorje’ like this in his right hand and a bell (‘ghanta’) in his left hand during daily prayers. The eight spokes of a dorje, four eagle’s claws on each side, represent the ‘eightfold path’ taken by every Buddhist to reach Nirvana. Length: c. 13 cm; width: 4 cm.

3: Nepal: an ornamental pendant made of silver in typical Nepalese style. Crafted to be box-shaped and rectangular, with an eyelet at the top. The front side depicts an attractive embossed floral ornament, with a red coral bead set at its centre. The back is smooth.
Dimensions: 4 cm x 4 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian private collection.