Small Traveling Pegam, 17th/18th Century Prayer manuscript holder This small low reading table, a unique example of Tibetan hand painted furniture, very likely, once belonged to a high lama, and due to it's unique sizing and patina, suggests living a nomadic lifestyle. The soft wood prayer table is painted with natural minerals including; cinnabar, malacite, and indigo. Buddhist auspicious symbolism decorate the doors and side panels, the rear panels include a traveling 'beast' with a rising flames. The artist were often the same artist that paint the famous sacred Thangka's. Symbolism such as this represents the teachings and values of Buddhism, such as purity, wisdom, compassion, and enlightenment. Provenance: While living and working in Kathmandu, Nepal, I met Dr. Ruth Sumerlin Hayward, a scholar and collector with a deep interest in Himalayan material culture. She was professionally associated with my husband, Julio (Andy) Andrews, and we quickly became close friends. During that period, we spent significant time at the 4th Century Stupa, Boudhanath, which held an enclave of Tibetan immigrants. Often even in the middle of the nigh caravans of newly arrived Tibetan refugees were unloading extraordinary chests, cabinets, and ritual furniture. Many of these pieces—then largely unknown in the West— would later appear in major publications, museum collections and some tribal art dealers inventory Dr. Hayward was among the early and discerning collectors of this material. A portion of her collection was later donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). My own collection, assembled during those same years and closely tied to these shared experiences, is only now being made available for scholarly and public appreciation References: Kamansky, David. Wooden Wonders. Pacific Asia Museum and Serinda Publications Inc., Chicago, IL, US 2004 ISBN 10: 1932476172 / ISBN 13: 9781932476170 Corona, Camilla & Corona, Luca. Auspicious by Design. Mera Publications Pvt. Ltd., 2021 ISBN: 978-9937-0-8899-2. Buckley, Chris. Tibetan Furniture. Floating World Editions, Warren, CT, 2005 ISBN 10: 0500512779 Marie's is an Associate Member of ATADA The Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association