Description:

Central Asia, Tibet, ca. 19th century CE. A richly worked Tibetan brass locking mechanism panel, shaped in an elegant quatrefoil and ornamented with a stylized floral medallion that reads like a lotus in slow bloom. The design is built around a central boss, encircled by scrolling foliate forms that radiate outward into four pointed lobes, creating a composition that is both symmetrical and quietly dynamic. The surface bears the dark, time-earned patina of long handling, with areas of warm coppery tone peeking through where the metal has been rubbed smooth. Small pierced holes at the edges and center indicate its original function as a fitted component, once mounted over the working parts of a lock on a chest, cabinet, or door. In Tibetan domestic and monastic interiors, such hardware was not merely practical - it was part of the visual language of protection, status, and craftsmanship. Size: 5.4" W x 5.4" H (13.7 cm x 13.7 cm)

At once architectural and jewel-like, this panel distills a familiar Tibetan decorative vocabulary into a single, concentrated object: a functional ornament designed to guard what mattered, and to do so with beauty.

Provenance: private Lafayette, Colorado, USA collection

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#200403

  • Condition: Light surface wear, but, otherwise intact and very nice with rich patina.

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April 24, 2026 8:00 AM MDT
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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000