Tibetan Repoussé Needle Case

Lavishly decorated with repoussé, auspicious Buddhist symbols, and a bit of coral, this 19th-century silver needle case was once filled with the needles of a Tibetan healer skilled in the art of moxibustion. Practiced throughout Asia for thousands of years, moxibustion is a traditional medical technique that involves burning mugwort to facilitate healing and stimulate energy flow. Healers insert small needles into acupuncture points on the body, affixing a cone-shaped amount of the herb and setting it alight to create a pleasant, heating sensation deep in the skin. Essential to the healer’s repertoire, these needles were stored in ornate cases such as this one.