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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,653
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Hi everybody...
A Tibetan Phurba, old and large 75cms long many are only 25-30cms. Carved wood (wood is a scarce commodity in the region), very nice patina. Not a weapon in the accepted sense, but a 'Spiritual, weapon which maybe of interest..... ' The Shaman's ritual tool from Nepal.The Phurba, a ceremonial dagger, is a central ritual tool for all shamanic rituals-so central, in fact, that its use is rarely specified but simply presumed.While other objects of similar shape can be considered phurba, it is usually a "knife" with three distinct segments, one of which is a characteristic three sided blade or point. The segments and the triple blade represent the three spirit worlds, while the phurba as a whole symbolises the "world axis" binding all three worlds together.But it is more than a ritual object; during a healing it is the jhankari himself. During his trance, the jhankari transforms his spiritual body into a phurba and takes flight through the spirit world in this form.' Any info or comments would be most appreciated......thankyou |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,780
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Hi David.
Where did you get this? Who said it was Tibetan? I only ask as I do not think this is from anywhere near Asia. |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,780
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The coloured cloth and light glare are making reading your picture quite difficult. Hard to get an idea of any patina. Can you take some day light pics on something a little more neutral. I am certain this is nothing to do with Tibet.
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#4 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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I am quite sure that it is not a Tibetan phurba, though wooden ones do exist. Could this be a Bon phurba or a piece from a different culture altogether?
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,780
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Perhaps it is Tibetan
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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I've several antique Tibetan purbu. None look anything like this. IMHO, the
carving and design looks more African in origin. Rich |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,780
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I do not think it is African. I will hold back untill we see some better pics but I am glad you think the same. The style of the fish and the overall decoration scream something else to me.
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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I agree this piece has several stylistic differences with Tibetan and Nepalese phurbas. The center section outlined does resemble the dorje, but I think only a resemblance. The faces on the sides look like African Dan masks.
Quite a strange piece. |
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,087
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Excellent discussion and information,guys! I've always been fascinated in these pieces and really thought at the beginning of this discussion that this was an African depiction of a phurbu (I was trying to think of any Buddhist influence or colonies on the African coast). Now I want to read up on the Bon. Thanks again!
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