A NINE-PRONGED BRONZE AND IRON VAJRA AND A BRONZE RITUAL BELL 'GHANTA'

Estimated Value:

600 € - 1.000 €

Result:

1.554 € incl. Premium and VAT

Description:

Tibet, ca. 15th c. and Mongolia or Tibet, ca. 18th c.
L. 22,5 cm und H. 24,2 cm
This nine-pronged vajra has a flattened, spherical central piece, each surrounded by two strings of beads. The base for the eight opposing spokes is formed on both sides by a row of eight lotus leaves. All the spokes touch the square central axle, which is forged of iron - This large ritual bell has a ninefold vajra handle, with the face of a crowned bodhisattva. The separately cast bell body has numerous symbols, such as encircling vajras, garland with kirtimukha heads, characters
and lotus leaves and is cast inside with a mark. The bell symbolises the female principle and forms the counterpart to the diamond sceptre (vajra), which is considered male. The bell (gantha) stands symbolically for wisdom and the vajra for method. The sound of the bell is understood as the voice of dharma, and it dispels negative energies. Two-coloured bronze, the body in light bronze.
The vajra: Max Müller (1867-1960), German consul in Hankow, collected in China between 1905 and 1912, by descent to his daughter Irmgard Müller-Doertenbach (1909-2011), Nagel, 4.4.1992, lot 1727 - Wear - The ghanta:
Old Bavarian private collection assembled in Germany and Austria before 1986 by repute - Minor wear, clapper lost

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