Two Tibetan Zodiac Calendar Protection Votive Plaques

19th century, includes two square votive plaques with hanger at top center, the astrological plaques show a concentric mandala surrounded by a square border of the twelve animal zodiac calendar, the reverse side of one is embossed with a four sided dorje symbol, these votive plaques were carried by individuals to protect them from evil forces.


4 x 3 1/2 in., 3 1/2 x 3 in.
Schuyler Van Rensselaer Cammann was an American scholar renowned for his contributions to the field of art and archaeology of Asia, particularly Southeast Asian and Chinese art. He began his distinguished career at Yale University, where upon graduation he spent two years living in Changsha teaching English and European History. He traveled extensively at this time and developed a great interest and appreciation for Tibetan art. He returned to America to attend graduate school at Harvard, but before proceeding to his PhD, World War II broke out and Dr. Cammann returned to China to serve as a US naval officer. After the war, he completed his doctorate at John Hopkins and then went on to teach for many years at the University of Pennsylvania. He continued to conduct fieldwork expeditions to Asia. Over the length of his career, he received many notable awards and recognition for his scholarly contributions to the field of Asian art and archeology.

From the Collection of the late Dr. Schuyler Van Rensselaer Cammann (1912-1991), Esteemed Professor Emeritus in the Department of Oriental Studies, University of Pennsylvania
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Good estate condition; hanger on smaller one filled in.