Lynn Levenberg: Tibetan Women's Jewelry

Tibetan Women’s Jewelry describes the cultural history of Central Tibet told through traditional jewelry and trade from the 17th century of the 5th Dalai Lama through the 14th Dalai Lama’s 1959 exile to India. This art book presents ten distinctive styles of women’s relic boxes (Gaus), plus headdresses, ear pendants, shoulder chatelaines, and waist ornaments. The author’s fascinating interviews with the last living Lhasa noblewomen and master goldsmiths reveal original names and how and when these beautiful treasures were worn.

This innovative study establishes for the first time that jewelry styles changed with each Dalai Lama, setting an important dating precedent for all Tibetan collectibles. Meticulous research makes this the definitive scholarly publication on Tibetan jewelry.