MING DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY

The dorje or vajra was mainly employed in Tantric Buddhism in Tibet, in the Vedic ritual for dispelling evil forces from sacrificial enclosures. As such, it symbolizes spiritual forces and firmness of spirit. Bells are often found in opposition or as a complement to the vajra.
A very similar vajra of 15th century date was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 May 2007, lot 1582.