a rare tibeto chinese gold and silver-inlaid iron ritual hammer

LATE 15TH CENTURY

Details

a rare tibeto chinese gold and silver-inlaid iron ritual hammer
late 15th century
The rectangular head is moulded with fleurs de lys, a half-vajra finial with a lower section is moulded with lotus petals supporting four makaras with silver inlaid eyes, each issuing a prong, the finial also with a half-vajra consisting of makaras issuing a prong, silver inlaid eyes, a shaped shaft terminating in a ball-shaped element supporting a half-vajra with a lotus-petal shaped section with four makaras, each issuing a prong
34.5 cm long

Lot Essay

Although the hammer is slightly later in date than the staff of the previous lot, it is sure that the hammer is casted in the imperial foundries of Beijing. As the petals on the hammer are slightly broader and less decorated a late fifteenth century date seems acceptable. The ritual hammer might date from the Chenghua period (A.D. 1465 - 1487), when there was another short revival of imperial interest in Tibetan Buddhism.

More from Important Hindu and Buddhist Art

View All