NEPAL, CIRCA 17TH CENTURY OR EARLIER

While the conch shell is an important ritual implement in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition, as Vishnu's battle trumpet or as a ritual instrument in Tibetan Buddhism often elaborated with silver mounts, relatively few carved examples are known. Lerner, in The Flame and the Lotus, 1985, cat. no. 29, illustrates three circa 11th century examples attributed to Northern India. The present example is more likely of later date and of Nepali origin, with very finely executed ornate scrollwork.