Antique yak leather Tibetan coin purse or belt pouch (mechaks), consisting of a stiff leather purse and a loop at the top to attach to a belt or strap. The ring that joins the purse to the strap shows wear marks commensurate with the age of the purse and the leather shows a lovely rich patina. We can date this piece to the late 19th or early 20th century and it was acquired by Bernard Heaphy in Tibet in the 1980s.
This piece is mounted on the front with a heavy studded decorative plaque and is inlaid with a real turquoise and two real red coral stones. The metal decoration is a mixture of white metal and brass. A small decorative strap hangs below.
Material: yak leather, steel, bronze, turquoise and coral.
Measurements: Height with strap 36 cm. Purse dimensions are height 9 cm (including rings), width 14 cm, depth 3 cm
These purses are worn by upperclass Tibetan men and sometimes women. They are used to hold an assortment of small objects and coins and are worn hung from the belt.