Tibetan Jewellery Box with Endless Knot, Painted Red

This small wooden box is handcrafted in Nepal and hand-painted with raised outlines. On the front it bears the endless knot, one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols: its interwoven lines, without beginning or end, stand in the Tibetan tradition for the interconnectedness of all things. The lid is adorned with a Gakhyil, the 'wheel of joy', the sides with coloured clouds and the corners with gold-coloured ornaments. The brass clasp is modelled on a dorje. To learn more about the symbol, read our article The Tibetan Endless Knot.

Rings, earrings and small keepsakes find their place inside. With a piece of jewellery in it, the box becomes a gift in itself.

The endless knot, Palbeu in Tibetan, is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols (Tashi Tagye). Its lines interweave, without beginning and without end. In the Tibetan tradition it stands for the interconnectedness of all things, for the union of wisdom and compassion and for the boundless wisdom of the Buddha.

The round motif on the lid is a Gakhyil (Sanskrit ānanda-cakra), the 'wheel of joy': three coloured swirls turning around a shared centre. It often forms the hub of the Dharma wheel and usually stands for the Three Jewels, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha; in the Dzogchen teachings, for ground, path and fruition. Clouds and gold-coloured corner ornaments in cloud and scroll forms are typical of painted Tibetan chests and furniture, as are raised outlines, known in Tibetan painting as relief painting (kyumbur). The dorje, on which the clasp is modelled, stands for the indestructible.

Keep rings, earrings, necklaces, a bracelet or a wrist mala in the box, as well as small keepsakes that matter to you. The lid closes with the clasp on the front. Even when empty, the box is a colourful eye-catcher on a chest of drawers or a shelf. In Tibetan homes and monasteries, painted wooden chests and boxes have long been used to keep precious things, from jewellery to ritual objects.

Material

wood

Making

by hand

Painting

by hand, raised outlines

Motif front

endless knot

Motif lid

Gakhyil

Motif sides

clouds

Motif corners

gold-coloured ornaments

Clasp

brass, dorje shape

Hinges

2, metal

Outer width

approx. 12.5 cm

Outer depth

approx. 9.5 cm

Outer height

approx. 11.5 cm

Inner width

approx. 10 cm

Inner depth

approx. 7.5 cm

Inner height

approx. 9 cm

Weight

approx. 380 g

The dimensions were measured by hand.
As each piece is made by hand, slight variations are possible.

Wipe the box with a soft, dry cloth, without water or cleaning agents. Keep it out of direct sunlight so the colours do not fade, and away from damp and radiators. As it bears auspicious symbols, many people give it a clean, raised place rather than the floor.