Lightning over the Potala Palace.

Thogchags means "lightning iron" in Tibetan and these talismans of bronze and meteoric iron, some dating back to the Bronze Age, are thought to have fallen from the sky or sprung from the ground where lightning has struck. Worn around the neck or sewn onto clothing, they protect against lightning, heal the sick, repel evil and attract good fortune. They are magical relics from Tibet's ancient past. Read John Vincent Bellezza's article on thogchags and pre-Buddhist rock art here.

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		1. Snow Leopard Thogchags. Tibet, est. 16th-18th century. Bronze (li mar or red bronze). A large thogchags made to be worn on a robe. Beautiful patina. Many thogchags are also said to contain some silver and gold -- the lustre of the metal makes it seem likely. 1 3/4" (4.5 cm.)diameter, 3/4" (2 cm.) deep. $450.
		2. Armor Plate. Tibet, est. 12th-15th century. Bronze. 2 3/4" (7 cm.)wide, 2" (5 cm.) high. $225.
		3. Sutra Clasp. Tibet, est. 18th-19th century. Bronze. Decorated with a stupa and used to close the binding of a book. 1" (2.5 cm.)wide, 1 1/2" (4 cm.) high. $225.
		4. Lion Amulet. Tibet, est. 12th-15th century. Bronze. In the form of a crouching lion. Ancient black bronze, one side worn away. 1 5/8" (4 cm.) long. $225.
		5. Lotus Buddha Thogchags. Tibet, est. 17th century. Bronze. A disk with a seat Buddha in the center of a lotus flower with the mantra Om Mane Padme Hum in the petals. There is a small hole in the right side (under the Ma) where the thogchags could have been sewn onto a piece of clothing. 1 1/2" (14 cm.) diameter. SOLD.
		6. Sutra Clasp with Dorje. Tibet, 18th-19th century. Bronze. These clasps were used by both Bonpo and Buddhist monasteries. Decorated with a dorje. 1-3/8" (3.5 cm.) by 1-1/4" (3 cm). $175.
		7. Dorje Ring Thogchags. 18 - 19th Century Tibet. Copper alloy with a wonderful soft patina. Size 7. SOLD.
		8. Snow Lion Sutra Clasp. Tibet, 17th-18th Century. Bronze. The face of the snow lion is barely visible between two vertical dorjes but it was pointed out to me several times as I wore this in Tibet. I have since seen another thogchags like this with much less wear where the snow lion is clearly visible. Wonderful patina. 1 1/2" (4 cm.) high, 1 1/2" wide. $375.
		9. Lotus Clasp. Tibet, 15th-18th Century. Bronze. From a belt or an article of clothing. 1 7/8" (4.7 cm.) long, 1" wide. $175.
		10. Horse Trapping. Tibet. Early Buddhist Period, 8th to 12th century. Bronze. Originally used for tying ropes and decorations onto a horse's reins. 1 3/4" (4 cm.) across. $225.
		11. Double Lotus Thogchags. Tibet, 15th-18th Century. Bronze. Unusually heavy clasp in double lotus shape, made as a belt or dress clasp. 2" (5 cm.) long, 1" (2.5 cm) wide. $225.
		12. Gau Thogchags. Tibet, early Buddhist period. Bronze. A rare, very early gau cover. 1 1/8" (3 cm.) wide. $225.
		13. Medicine Spoon Thogchags. Tibet, 15th - 18th Century. Bronze. 2 3/4" (7 cm.) long. $125.
		14. Large Sutra Clasp. Tibet, 14th - 16th Century. Bronze. Resembling a fierce Bhairab face. Very worn, the top bar broken off. 2 1/4" (5.5 cm.) wide. $225.
		15. Personal Amulet. Tibet, Early Buddhist Period. Bronze. This very old piece could have been part of a larger thogchags but it has no rough edges and has been treasured as an amulet in itself for centuries. Perhaps at one time it was a face. On the back is part of a loop that has been worn away. 1" (2.5 cm.) high. $65.
		16. Unusual Sutra Clasp. Tibet, 15th - 18th Century. Bronze. 1 7/8" (4.5 cm.) wide. $175.
		17. Mala Thogchags. Tibet, 15th - 18th Century. Bronze. 2" (5 cm.) diameter. Unusual casting. Looks like it was originally hollow, then filled with bronze in a separate casting. $125.
		18. Throat Thogchags. Tibet, 13th - 15th Century. Bronze. 1 3/4" (4.5 cm.) long. This thogchags is a bit of a mystery. When I bought it in Lhasa the man said it was a throat thogchags and when I didn't understand, kept on touching his neck. Maybe it's a musical instrument? It's hollow, with openings at both ends and one on the side. $245.
		19. Cloud Sutra Clasp. Tibet, 13th - 15th Century. Bronze. 1 1/2" (3.8 cm.) wide. Very pretty little thogchags with a cloud design and a lot of wear. $175.
		20. Arrowhead Thogchags. Tibet, est. 12th-15th century. Bronze. The triangular shape also leads people to think they are phurba points. This has an unusual cross design on the sides. 1 3/4" (41 mm.) long. $125.
		21. Triangular Thogchags. Tibet, est. 12th-15th century. Bronze. This looks like it's a very specific thing, with its shape and markings of dots and lines, but I don't know what it it. 2 1/8" (54 mm.) long. SOLD.