Vajra
Vajra
12th century (made)
12th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The vajra or "Diamond Sceptre" is a quintessential Tibetan Buddhist object representing the 'diamond like' fundamental nature of the enlightened state as unsheakable and indivisible. This example has the more unusual nine rather than five prongs which probably relates to particular ritual uses. It belongs to an early group of vajras decorated with rows of staring heads dating to between the 11th and 14th centuries.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Vajra (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Steel and gold |
Brief description | A Tibetan steel and gold Vajra |
Physical description | A steel and gold Vajra from Tibet |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Supported by John and Fausta Eskenazi |
Object history | Owned by the family of Sywambunath Vajracharya and brought out of Tibet to Nepal in circa 1950. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | The vajra or "Diamond Sceptre" is a quintessential Tibetan Buddhist object representing the 'diamond like' fundamental nature of the enlightened state as unsheakable and indivisible. This example has the more unusual nine rather than five prongs which probably relates to particular ritual uses. It belongs to an early group of vajras decorated with rows of staring heads dating to between the 11th and 14th centuries. |
Bibliographic reference | Orientations; vol. 40. no. 4; May 2009; The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum.
Clarke, John: Buddhist Sculpture, p. 38. |
Collection | |
Accession number | IS.10-2008 |
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Record created | October 1, 2008 |
Record URL |
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