Late Qing Dynasty (19th Century) Large Tibetan Buddhist Five-Faced Wrathful Vajra Phurba Ritual Dagger, Temple Offering Ritual Object

拍品描述

Dimensions: 195 cm (76.8 in./6.4 ft) high, with the five wrathful deity heads measuring 38 cm (15 in./1.25 ft) high, weighing 27 kg (59.5 lb), 19th century. Condition and Provenance: Overall well-preserved, with a solid cold iron structure. The five wrathful deity heads, mineral-painted facial details, engraved patterns, and sculptural elements are clearly visible. The surface exhibits a naturally oxidized, antique iron color and shows signs of long-term use in rituals. Provenance: Private collection, California, USA. Exquisite metalwork. The piece is divided into four main sections: the five wrathful deity heads, the five-pronged vajra and axe, the three-edged vajra, and the triangular Mount Meru base. The imposing structure reflects its use as a temple display piece and a powerful ritual implement. The upper part consists of five stacked three-faced wrathful deity heads arranged in the traditional vajra dagger shape. Each head bears a ferocious expression, with wide-open eyes, painted eyebrows, bright red lips, and exposed white fangs, accented with red and blue mineral pigments. Metal earrings, flame ornaments, and miniature skull motifs create a highly three-dimensional and dramatic visual effect. The five layers symbolize the subjugation of the five poisons and the purification of the five aggregates, representing the wrathful manifestation of enlightened wisdom. Below the head is a waisted handle decorated with lotus patterns, supporting a five-clawed vajra, symmetrically inlaid with crescent-shaped ritual implements. The vajra represents the five levels of wisdom, while the implements symbolize ignorance and attachment. Below is a three-edged vajra dagger decorated with intertwined snake patterns. The snake motif symbolizes the power of guardian deities and control over worldly obstacles, while the three edges correspond to the purification of body, speech, and mind. This ritual implement is crafted from a heavy, cold-forged iron alloy, refined through forging, carving, and relief techniques, resulting in a naturally oxidized, rustic, matte iron appearance. The Vajrakilaya is an important ritual implement in the Nyingma and Gelug schools of Tibetan Buddhism, used for protection, removal of obstacles, purification, and spiritual practice. Its astonishing size of 1.95 meters makes it not a handheld implement, but a giant ritual implement of temple scale, possessing religious significance, exquisite craftsmanship, and important Tibetan Buddhist artistic value.

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