An 19th Century or earlier tsakli depicting in mineral pigments an iron mendicant's bowl containing a bunch of peony leaves around 3 tightly curled buds, representing the '3 gems of Buddhism' - the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, above a cluster of 3 fruits with seeds bursting forth, indicating plenty and fertility, their number again indicative of the 'triple gem'. Within the complex and esoteric symbolism of Hindu Tantra, from which much of Buddhist Tantra descends, virtually all plant species have a ritual significance as they are all manifestations of 'the divine'. The 'soul' of plantsis alchemically released through the extraction of plant essences, and were 'liberated' at specific astrological times and geomantic places to focus their spiritual qualities for specific tantric rituals. 7 lines of Tibetan text to the reverse plus 1 syllable. 9.3 x 12.2cm