Tibetan Item for comment

Al Shamal · 28th November 2012, 08:06 PM

Salam,

At first i thought this might have been an old arrow head pushed inside a bone handle; however now i am thinking it may be an old craftsman's tool for leather working or similar.

The vendor advised it was from Tibet and more than 200 years old.
Any comments or thoughts please....

Henk · 28th November 2012, 08:25 PM

I have no idea, but the bone is antler.

Indianajones · 28th November 2012, 09:53 PM

my thoughts too; antler . . and in addition some of my logics; it doesnt seem very practical to me that -if it were a tool- the outer (working-)edge of the blade is decorated. This leads me to . . . assume . . .it is more a ritual instrument. Looks ancient indeed; is it iron or bronze?
Not a common seen artifact anyway; so congrats with it.

spiral · 28th November 2012, 11:13 PM

Tourist shops in Nepal have many such anomalies...

Spiral

Al Shamal · 29th November 2012, 03:09 PM

Shokran All,

I believe it's iron (although I am no expert in bronze items!) and also felt that it was ancient. A ritual instrument makes some sense also.

Antler ok, so I had a look for some similar pictures on-line without success...do you have any similar representations? The handle is very comfortable to grip and the 'knuckle' part fits well between the last two fingers!

Salam Spiral, so do you think it's a tourist item? I thought it to be genuine. When I visited I couldn't find anything like this. Any ideas on its use?

David · 29th November 2012, 03:34 PM

Please forgive me if i am stating the obvious, but from the one angle the entire hilt is shot from it at least appears to be a clear depiction of a penis. If that is the case (it might only look that way from this angle) i would certainly lean towards some kind of ritual blade as since i think it would be less likely to have a sexual organ as a hilt for a work blade (i could be wrong). My first though then would be circumcision, but that is not a Buddhist practice AFAIK, so if the blade is indeed from Tibet that would be unlikely. But i still would lean towards a ritual implement.

spiral · 30th November 2012, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Shamal

Salam Spiral, so do you think it's a tourist item? I thought it to be genuine. When I visited I couldn't find anything like this. Any ideas on its use?

No not a tourist item ,as in made for tourists, the Antique shops of Nepal ,{when I was there 8 or 9 years ago.] were at least half genuine antiques of many & varient types, of course the othe 50% were "modern Antiques" covered in stain & dirt & smoked for a year or two to look old.

I expect each year the antique have a higher "fresh" percentage. Still that the same of many dealers & auction houses....

Sadley I dont know what its for, The Antler is from a "Barking Deer" though, common in Nepal untill most were eaten.... I have several Kardas mounted with the same horn.

Spiral

28th November 2012, 08:06 PM	#1
Al Shamal Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UAE Posts: 32	Tibetan Item for comment Salam, At first i thought this might have been an old arrow head pushed inside a bone handle; however now i am thinking it may be an old craftsman's tool for leather working or similar. The vendor advised it was from Tibet and more than 200 years old. Any comments or thoughts please.... Attached Images

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28th November 2012, 08:25 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I have no idea, but the bone is antler.

28th November 2012, 09:53 PM	#3
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	my thoughts too; antler . . and in addition some of my logics; it doesnt seem very practical to me that -if it were a tool- the outer (working-)edge of the blade is decorated. This leads me to . . . assume . . .it is more a ritual instrument. Looks ancient indeed; is it iron or bronze? Not a common seen artifact anyway; so congrats with it.

28th November 2012, 11:13 PM	#4
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Tourist shops in Nepal have many such anomalies... Spiral

29th November 2012, 03:09 PM	#5
Al Shamal Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UAE Posts: 32	Shokran All, I believe it's iron (although I am no expert in bronze items!) and also felt that it was ancient. A ritual instrument makes some sense also. Antler ok, so I had a look for some similar pictures on-line without success...do you have any similar representations? The handle is very comfortable to grip and the 'knuckle' part fits well between the last two fingers! Salam Spiral, so do you think it's a tourist item? I thought it to be genuine. When I visited I couldn't find anything like this. Any ideas on its use?

29th November 2012, 03:34 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	Please forgive me if i am stating the obvious, but from the one angle the entire hilt is shot from it at least appears to be a clear depiction of a penis. If that is the case (it might only look that way from this angle) i would certainly lean towards some kind of ritual blade as since i think it would be less likely to have a sexual organ as a hilt for a work blade (i could be wrong). My first though then would be circumcision, but that is not a Buddhist practice AFAIK, so if the blade is indeed from Tibet that would be unlikely. But i still would lean towards a ritual implement.