This mold was used to make small sacred sculptures. In Tibetan Buddhism, tsatsas can depict deities, stupas, or auspicious signs. Tsatsas are created by pressing clay into a mold, and they may be made by monastics or lay practitioners. They are often created to generate religious merit. Some are placed inside stupas (monuments containing symbolic relics associated with the Buddha’s body, teaching, and enlightened mind), while others are left at sacred sites or made during pilgrimage. The clay itself can carry meaning. Devotees may mix in sacred substances, such as soil from pilgrimage sites, medicinal herbs, or even the ashes of loved ones. Small in scale, tsatsas can hold memories and vast devotional significance. Save this post as a starting point for understanding how objects are made and used in Tibetan Buddhist art. #TibetanBuddhism #BuddhistArt #HimalayanArt _______ Mold for Clay Image (tsatsa) of Buddha Amitayus; Himalayan Region; ca. 19th century; Copper alloy; Rubi...