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Antique Purse / Lighter from Tibet. Among the last that we shall see of a vanishing culture.
Leather, brass, silver and a bead that may or may not be coral.
Fish motif, a worn out Kirti Mukh - lion head motif -í«í_ that is seen all over Asia.
There is a metal strip at the bottom to maintain the breadth of the purse prevent it from flattening out. This strip is a bit loose.
19th century.
Originally made for self-consumption. This piece was not created for commercial purposes. Made for self-use, most of the production work was handled by the end-user and a few bits and pieces were bought and added in.
Well used as can be seen by the 1) softening and burnishing of leatherí«í_ 2) the intricate silver designs flattening out with the rubbing down
both of which can happen only with extended usage.
This piece has lived a whole-hearted life within Tibet in the hands of its Tibetan masters who lived in the 19th century.
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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.
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