A Gem Inlaid Gild Copper Sea Snail Ornament
銅鎏金鏨刻嵌寶石海螺
Ht.9cm Lg.14cm Wd.8cm
Dharma conch, also known as conch, is one of the commonly used instruments in Tibetan Buddhism. This conch is inlaid with precious stones by gilding and carving technology, and the craft is very exquisite. The engraving technique is used to make flower s. The decoration is exquisitely carved, and the filling and glaze are meticulous. The whole device gives a sense of magnificence. The relationship between the Qing imperial family and Tibetan Buddhism is long and deep. Because of the religious beliefs of Emperor Qianlong, he had close contact with Tibetan monks during his reign. Therefore, it was inevitable to make palace Buddhist porcelains and ritual objects, either for palace temples, or to reward monks in Tibet and Mongolia. This snail is a royal artifact. Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty once wrote "The Praise of Faluo" and believed that this "Brahma tool" was "to perform the Mahayana, and Pu to the decree of the Buddha".
法螺為藏傳佛教常用法器之一。此件法螺採用鎏金鏨刻紋飾的技法鑲嵌寶石，工藝極為考究。以鏨刻技法製成花卉紋飾雕琢精美，一絲不苟的整器給人以富麗堂皇之感。清朝皇室與藏傳佛教的關係久遠而深厚，由於乾隆皇帝的宗教信仰，在位時與西藏僧侶來往密切，因此製作宮廷佛教瓷器、法器等物是為必然，或為宮廷佛堂之用，亦或賞賜藏蒙地區僧侶。此件法螺即為一件宮廷御用之器。清高宗曾撰《法螺贊》，認為這種「梵天之器」是「以演大乘，溥歸佛旨」。