


Buddhist prayer wheel from Tibet, intented to be used on a table top, date unknown. The prayer wheel is set within an opening casing mounted on a pedestal with three tiers. Briefly, the pedestal comprises of: a curved base painted red and decorated with lotus motifs in gold; a middle section with a pale yellow background decorated with pairs of animals in black paint of each side, the animals being horses, lions, peacock, and elephants; finally, a top tier of three bands, the bottom and top band being green with a middle band painted red and decorated with floral motifs of gold paint. The prayer wheel is located above the pedestal, being surrounded by four square pillars, one on each corner of the base. The pillars are decorated with floral designs of green, blue, pink, and white paint. The prayer wheel itself is brightly decorated and features a variety of designs. The lower section shows upward pointing lotus petals in blue, red, green, and yellow below a horizontal band of white paint. Above this are white six circles against a background of red. Each circle contains a character/s of possibly Tibetan script. A further section above this consists of horizontal and vertical bands of blue against a green background. Above the prayer wheel and supported by four pillars is a pitched roof. The roof has a red base with downward faces lotus motifs in gold. The roof itself is painted yellow and covered in geometic designs in red. At the apex of the roof is a small protrusion from which rises a narrow spire, this being an extension of a rod which runs vertically through the whole structure holding the prayer wheel in place.