Sealed Tibetan Prayer Wheel – Late Qing Dynasty (c. 1885): Technical Observations, Ritual Context, and Provenance

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Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: Zenodo 2025
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contents <p>This rare Tibetan prayer wheel, dating to the late Qing dynasty (circa 1885), is a museum-quality example of 19th-century Sino-Tibetan ritual art. The piece remains completely sealed, preserving its original internal mantra scrolls — an unusual survival, as most historic prayer wheels have been opened or altered over time.</p> <p> </p> <p>A distinctive feature is the intact <span><strong>red inspection seal</strong></span>, applied during official late-Qing trade or border control. Microscopic examination under high magnification reveals embedded pigment particles and aged fiber residues within the seal’s impressed zones, confirming natural ageing and absence of modern repainting. UV-light analysis (365 nm) shows the seal fluoresces consistently with iron-oxide-based pigments typical of the late 19th century.</p> <p> </p> <p>The cylindrical body is constructed in the traditional manner: a copper alloy drum with repoussé and engraved motifs, mounted on a turned wooden spindle. Tooling marks and wear patterns are consistent with sustained ritual use. Patination across the metal surface presents a complex layer of oxidation products — including cuprite, malachite, and darkened organic residues — indicative of long-term handling and environmental exposure.</p>
format Recurso digital
id zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_16880898
institution Zenodo
language eng
publishDate 2025
publisher Zenodo
record_format zenodo
spellingShingle Sealed Tibetan Prayer Wheel – Late Qing Dynasty (c. 1885): Technical Observations, Ritual Context, and Provenance
1stbuddha
Tibetan prayer wheel, Qing dynasty ritual art, sealed mantra mill, Sino-Tibetan copperwork, inspection seal, Buddhist ritual object, 19th century Tibet, mantra cylinder
<p>This rare Tibetan prayer wheel, dating to the late Qing dynasty (circa 1885), is a museum-quality example of 19th-century Sino-Tibetan ritual art. The piece remains completely sealed, preserving its original internal mantra scrolls — an unusual survival, as most historic prayer wheels have been opened or altered over time.</p> <p> </p> <p>A distinctive feature is the intact <span><strong>red inspection seal</strong></span>, applied during official late-Qing trade or border control. Microscopic examination under high magnification reveals embedded pigment particles and aged fiber residues within the seal’s impressed zones, confirming natural ageing and absence of modern repainting. UV-light analysis (365 nm) shows the seal fluoresces consistently with iron-oxide-based pigments typical of the late 19th century.</p> <p> </p> <p>The cylindrical body is constructed in the traditional manner: a copper alloy drum with repoussé and engraved motifs, mounted on a turned wooden spindle. Tooling marks and wear patterns are consistent with sustained ritual use. Patination across the metal surface presents a complex layer of oxidation products — including cuprite, malachite, and darkened organic residues — indicative of long-term handling and environmental exposure.</p>
title Sealed Tibetan Prayer Wheel – Late Qing Dynasty (c. 1885): Technical Observations, Ritual Context, and Provenance
topic Tibetan prayer wheel, Qing dynasty ritual art, sealed mantra mill, Sino-Tibetan copperwork, inspection seal, Buddhist ritual object, 19th century Tibet, mantra cylinder
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16880898