A GROUP OF TWO COPPER ALLOY VAJRAS


TIBET, CIRCA 13TH & 16TH CENTURIESHimalayan Art Resources item nos.61678&61679 15.5 cm (6 in.), 12.8 cm (5 in.) long
|西藏 約十三與十六世紀 銅金剛杵兩支When wielded by Buddhism's protectors, like Vajrapani, the vajra is a symbol of Buddhism's indestructible might. The larger of these five-pronged vajras features several faces around its grip which is currently interpreted to originate from either Tibetan, Dali, or Tangut Buddhism (see HAR set no.2341). Also compare the angular prongs presented in the seven forms of Mahakala from Dali Kingdom Buddhist Scroll by Zhang Shengwen in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei. Provenance London Market, 1970/1980