
Jing Wen
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€15,000 - €20,000
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Global Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

International Director

International Specialist

Head of Sale, Specialist
A BRASS AND IRON PURBHA
TIBET, 12TH/13TH CENTURY
西藏 十二/十三世紀 銅柄天鐵刃普巴杵
The powerful magical dagger is a ritual implement meant with its triple blade to cut through the three poisons of ignorance, desire, and hatred. The blade which issues from a makara mouth is surmounted by two woven knots between which is a faceted shaft. Crowning the top are three wrathful faces.
Compare with a closely related example sold at Christie's, New York, 22 March 2011, lot 387. Also compare the facial treatment of the three faces above the woven knot with other wrathful deities including an Achala, a dakini and a Heruka, from the same period sold at Bonhams, New York, 14 Mar 2016, lot 7 and 8, and Bonhams, New York, 16 Mar 2015, lot 12.
Published:
Ramon Prats, et.al., Monasterios y lamas del Tibet, Madrid, Fundación "La Caixa", 2000, p. 103, no. 21.
Exhibited:
Monasterios y lamas del Tibet, Fundación "La Caixa", Madrid, November 2000-January 2001.
Provenance:
Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1990s