A GILT COPPER ALLOY SHRINE BOX FOR VAJRAKILA TIBET OR MONGOLIA, 18TH CENTURYA GILT COPPER ALLOY SHRINE BOX FOR VAJRAKILATIBET OR MONGOLIA, 18TH CENTURY Himalayan Art Resources item no. 4731 Gau: 23.5 x 19 cm (9 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.) Tsatsa: 13 x 14.5 cm (5 1/8 x 5 3/4 in.)西藏或蒙古 十八世紀 銅鎏金普巴金剛佛龕Etched onto a gilded box is the three-faced, six-armed form of Vajrakila, who embraces his consort while holding a three-sided dagger (phurba) to ward off demonic obstructions. Surrounded by a mandorla of licking flames, Vajrakila's wrathful appearance is meant to subdue all negative forces and obstacles.Gau boxes primarily served as protective amulets, the interior housing a deity or guardian spirit, as seen here in the clay image which depicts a warrior deity on riding a goat. Compare to an earlier gau depicting the same deity (HAR 1783).Provenance:Private California Collection, acquired in the 1980s