Tibet, Buddhist ritual use, ca. 1775 CE. This dorje is made of gilded bronze and decorated with carved crowns and a human skull. The details on the crowns are of what appear to be falcons or some other raptor. This dorje is somewhat non-traditional, with the long staff in between the crowns. Dorje are ritual implements in Tibetan Buddhism, a masculine symbol which is used in conjunction with bells (a feminine symbol) to symbolize compassion and wisdom. Much of Tibetan iconography derives from the Buddhist belief in the transcience of our corporeal forms, and this dorje emphasizes that theme in its decoration. Just as many traditional Tibetan Buddhist musical instruments were made of human bone to remind listeners of the proximity of physical death, the skull and birds of prey on this dorje are powerful reminders of the body's mortality. Traditional Tibetan funerary rituals include a "sky burial": because of the transmigration of the soul, there is no need to preserve the corpse, so it is placed outdoors where birds of prey may consume it. Skulls made into cups or other objects also had powerful ritual meaning in Tibetan society. This dorje continues that long tradition. Size: the dorje is 13" long and 1 3/4" in diameter around the widest part (the crowns).

NOTE: Relisted due to non-paying bidder.

Provenance: Ex-Denenberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles, CA.

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#110113

Near choice, beautiful patina.