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  2. Antique Leather Covered Prayer Wheel. Tibet, 19th century. 13" (33 cm.) high. Prayers encased in leather with brass fittings, a heavy metal weight, and a piece of shell to make it turn smoothly. Genuine old prayer wheels are hard to find. They are generally kept for a lifetime by their owners, then they are attached to the top of larger prayer wheels outside temples so the prayers will continue to rise as pilgrims make their circumambulations. $850.