Description: I bought this antique Tibetan Buddhist inlaid 2-color turquoise seal during one of my two visits to Lhasa, Tibet in the early 1990s. I have not found any another other seals with such intricate detail and exquisite turquoise inlays on eBay, Etsy, Worthpoint or Google Images. Unlike the many seals for sale on eBay with a big lump of blue turquoise, this seal is inlaid with blue and red turquoise. It caught my attention when I saw it in the Barkhor marketplace being displayed by a wizened Tibetan on a very small, rickety table. The upper part of the seal has the Tibetan script of Om inlaid on both sides in metal and red turquoise. Along its upper side, neck and shoulder there is inlaid metal amongst inlaid red and blue turquoise. Below its shoulder, on both sides, a four pointed star is inlaid with a metal and red turquoise. There's another metal inlay encircling its waist above two additional inlaid metal stars. The base has a very worn seal with an unknown pattern. If you are searching for an amazing Tibetan seal, this may be the best piece of your collection. Height: 6" Width: 2" at baseWeight: 8 oz Seal will be sent via UPS (USPS if PO Box), insured with signature delivery. Provenance: During my second trip to Lhasa on a single visa (typically it's all group visas), I was tailed by a 5-man plainclothes Chinese police team. I didn't notice them at first as they waited outside the small shops when I was inside. Two tall guys with smart gray suits and good leather shoes. The tallest guy was in charge. Then a team of three short street-savvy younger men reading newspapers. Every time I ditched them they must have been pissed. I never let on that I was aware of them. I even left my hotel before 5:00am once as that's when they came on duty traveling in an old, dusty white car. It sure was dark and cold that morning! When I eventually flew out of Lhasa, they were waiting for me at the airport. A terse woman in a Chinese military uniform with a cap confiscated a number of items. She emptied my backpack and carry-on putting nearly half of my purchased items on a far table. As I didn't speak Chinese and as she didn't speak English, the only word we could agree on was "No". Fortunately, she didn't think much of this old seal. She delayed me from clearing customs until the very last minute making me run to catch my flight. It was a wonderful experience!
Price: 335 USD
Location: Carmel by the Sea, California
End Time: 2024-09-03T17:57:26.000Z
Shipping Cost: 27 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Primary Material: Turquoise
Type: Seal
Color: Brass with Silver Inlay
Original/Reproduction: Antique Original
Region of Origin: Tibet
Age: Unknown
Maker: Tibet
