NGUYEN DYNASTY (ANNAM): bone religious amulet (15.71g), cf. Sylvester-6/D/1, 31 x 70 x 3mm, in the shape of a bài badge, tu phu cong dong // ngu vi ton ong ("Council of the Four Palaces, Five Honored Gentlemen"), rectangular border on both sides, ornate butterfly-shaped tassel in red, pink & gold, attached with red cord on badge knob, five braids with two knots each, VF-EF, ex John Sylvester Jr. Collection. The Four Mother Goddesses and Five Honored Gentlemen are important deities in the traditional Vietnamese religion of Tu Phu ("Four Palaces") and its worship of Dao Mau, the supreme Mother Goddess. The Four Palaces refer to the four realms, i.e., Heaven, Mountains, Water, and Earth, each ruled by a Mother Goddess. The Five Honored Gentlemen rank below the Mother Goddesses and oversee a particular realm.
Estimate: 300-400 USD