Vintage Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Herbal Medicine ‘Tsog’ Spoons (Set of 4)

These were created for Tibetan Buddhist rituals and for administering herbal medicines, the raised center of the spoon used for measuring dosages, as seen in three in our set. 
 
While typically made of at least 900 silver, these passed the magnet test but failed a home acid test for silver. While vintage Tibetan silver was often unmarked, what is called ‘Tibetan silver’ is often an alloy of silver with other metals.
 
Notice the intricate repose on the largest spoon and lesser metal design work in the bowls on the smaller spoons. They are supposed to show auspicious objects – the largest one a lotus flower we believe, the smaller ones simpler representations of the same. 
 
The handles are frequently jeweled with a natural turquoise stone, ours including three green ones (one cracked) and one with what appears to be a red stone, perhaps red coral. These are centered within a floral motif on all four spoons.
 
In Tibetan Buddhism, the number four signifies completeness and foundation, most prominently represented by the Four Noble Truths, which outline the nature of suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to it. Other significant four-fold concepts include the Four Dignities, which are guardians of the mind in Tantric practice; the Four Immeasurables of love, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity; and the Four Schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug), representing foundational lineages. (Thank you, AI.)
 
If you search online, you will find several tsogs asking much higher prices. We believe this is because they have been confirmed to be silver, unlike ours.
 
We believe our mother purchased these while living in Nepal in 1966-1967.
 
From left to right:
1: H 4 3/4” x L 1 3/8”, 0.81 oz (23g) 
2: H 4 3/4” x L 1 3/8”, 0.60 oz (17g)
3: H 5 1/8” x L 1 5/8”, 1.20 oz (34g)
4: H 4 3/8” x L 1 3/8”, 0.49 oz (14g)
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.