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A6216 Tibetan prayer wheel, copper / brass / bamboo / ivory / paper, maker unknown, Tibet, 1900-1972. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 1, A6216 Tibetan prayer wheel, copper / brass / bamboo / ivory / paper, maker unknown, Tibet, 1900-1972. Click to enlarge

A Tibetan prayer wheel

Made
Tibetan prayer wheel, copper / brass / bamboo / ivory / paper, maker unknown, Tibet, c. 1900

Tibetan prayer wheel comprising a cylindrical bamboo handle with brass trimming, metal piece protruding from one end with an ivory disc and a copper cylinder featuring a thin hollow centre, which is inserted on top of the metal piece. Above the cylinder is a copper domed lid and on one side of the cylinder is also a brass bound chain and weight attached.There is a thin cylindrical hole pierced through …

Summary

Object No.

A6216

Object Statement

Tibetan prayer wheel, copper / brass / bamboo / ivory / paper, maker unknown, Tibet, 1900-1972

Physical Description

Tibetan prayer wheel, copper / brass / bamboo / ivory / paper, maker unknown, Tibet, c. 1900

Tibetan prayer wheel comprising a cylindrical bamboo handle with brass trimming, metal piece protruding from one end with an ivory disc and a copper cylinder featuring a thin hollow centre, which is inserted on top of the metal piece. Above the cylinder is a copper domed lid and on one side of the cylinder is also a brass bound chain and weight attached.There is a thin cylindrical hole pierced through the lower section of the handle and inside the cylinder is a coiled paper prayer.

Marks

None

Short URL

https://ma.as/185526

Dimensions

Height

240 mm

Width

70 mm

Production

Made

History

Owned

Used

Notes

Prayer wheels are also referred to as Mani wheels by the Tibetans. According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, spinning such a wheel will have much the same effect as orally reciting the prayers. Essentially, a prayer wheel is a wheel on a spindle, which has encapsulated prayers or mantras written on the wheel.

Prayer wheels are used primarily by the Buddhists of Tibet and Nepal, where hand-held prayer wheels are carried by pilgrims and other devotees, and are turned during devotional activities. For many Buddhists, the prayer wheel also represents the Wheel of the Law (or Dharma) set in motion by the Buddha. The prayer wheel is also useful for illiterate members of the lay Buddhist community, since they can 'read' the prayers by turning the wheel.

Source

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs J Stanton, 1972

Acquisition Date

28 December 1972

Cite this Object

Harvard

A Tibetan prayer wheel 2021, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 1 June 2023, <https://ma.as/185526>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/185526 |title=A Tibetan prayer wheel |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=1 June 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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