Phurba for comments

[Ian]

As these items are not weapons, I'm sending the thread over to the Ethno Miscellania Forum.

[Sajen]

Hello Marius,

his is for sure a silversmithing art work set with stones and very imposant and nice to look at. But I really doubt that it's old or antique.
I am for sure not very knowledgeable in this area but I've seen some antique ones before and they never have looked like your example but I can be very wrong!
Attached is a picture of antique wooden ones.

Regards,
Detlef

[mariusgmioc]

Thank you Detlef!
I do not expect it to be very old. My guess would be somewhere around 1950, but this is purely a guess based on style, condition, materials, rust, etc.
The problem is that I cannot seem to find any additional information on this type of phurba, as I cannot find any similar examples, the one I have being the most elaborate and quality work.

[Sajen]

Hello Marius,

Like I stated before, I am not knowledgeable about these ritual objects. But I would guess that this ornate one was worked for rich tourists or collectors. I've found a similar example but not as good as your example, see pic.

Regards,
Detlef

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Marius,

Like I stated before, I am not knowledgeable about these ritual objects. But I would guess that this ornate one was worked for rich tourists or collectors. I've found a similar example but not as good as your example, see pic.

Regards,
Detlef

BINGO!

It is very similar, maybe the same workshop.

Any other information about the country of origin?

[Sajen]

I found it by a short google search "silver phurba", epray??

Found it again, not epray: https://www.maisonbibelot.com/uk/auc...-silver-140461

[Battara]

Actually I would disagree Ian. This is a religious weapon with supernatural powers.


Here is my example that is similar to one sold years ago on Czernys. Mine is made of silver, copper, lapis azule, turquoise, coral, and glass. As I said, these were not only used for ritually pinning down demons, but they were also used to vanquish them too. Ornate ones like this were also used as devotional meditative objects. Often it is paired with the bell. Some ornate ones are now coming out of China for sale but the quality is lower.