Tibetan Prayer Wheel?

[rockandrollrods]

I have a little eBay consignment business. One of my clients if an original Mouseketeer from the second season back in the 1950s. She's a really sweet lady and has an awesome collection of Disney memorabilia from over the years. I've been working with her for a couple of months now, and the vast majority has been Disney items or pieces relating to her work in the entertainment business. Except for this...

Apparently it's a Tibetan prayer wheel. It was a gift to her from a friend and she knows as little about it as I do. I'm assuming that it came out of the tourist trade, but I am quite ignorant of that culture. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[KC]

Haven't seen one like this before.

Usually the prayer wheels have a hollow section that "prayer slips" are put inside.  So, you might know more about the original owner, etc....by having the prayer slip interpreted.  Or, it may be instructions.

Also, not sure what yours is made of...but many a prayer wheel has been made of ivory.  Can't tell if yours could be or if it is celluloid, etc.

[rockandrollrods]

I don't think it's ivory. It doesn't have that feel and the surface looks like it's been made to look like ivory. Actually, the more I look at it, the most I'm thinking it's a fake for the tourists coming through there.

[KC]

I don't believe that it is...but would be remiss if it wasn't checked out.  I know that there have been many times over the years that items looked "cheap" or "touristy" and come to find out they were original and worth $$!  Because, lots of touristy things got tossed because people didn't think there was value in them....but because so many got tossed....they became more valuable.

The first thing I would venture to do is get an translation of the script.  You might want to take a good pic and post it.  Some of us "researchers" might be able to get it translated for you.

[rockandrollrods]

I made a guess on which way is up with the writing.

[KC]

See what I can ask around on this one....

[rockandrollrods]

Thank you! I appreciate it!