The metal artefact contains traces of silver, gold, brass, copper and iron. The file is used to make metal filings from this. Filings which are used medicinally, added to tsampa (barley dough) then made into edible tantric ritual offerings.
Extent: One artefact.
Size and dimensions of original material: The file and the composite metal artefact are each 13 cm long, the bell 3 cm long.
Custodial history: All the material was passed to the current owner by his father. Nyima Dorje is not a practising chowa but his father, grandfather and great grandfather were well established and well respected practitioners and would travel widely to undertake tantric rituals.
Arrangement: All the material was kept in the prayer room of Nyima Dorje's house (unseen).
