SOCLE DE PURBHA EN FER DAMASQUINÉ OR ET ARGENT TIBET ORIENTAL, DERGÉ, XVE SIÈCLESOCLE DE PURBHA EN FER DAMASQUINÉ OR ET ARGENTTIBET ORIENTAL, DERGÉ, XVE SIÈCLE Himalayan Art Resources item no. 205083 Purbha: 21.5 cm (8 1/2 in.) high; Stand 12 cm (4 3/4 in.) highA GOLD AND SILVER DAMANSCENED IRON PURBHA STAND EASTERN TIBET, DERGE, 15TH CENTURY 藏東 更慶鎮 十五世紀 鐵鋄金銀普巴杵座 This wrought iron box, which was used as stand for a phurba (a ritual dagger), is emblazoned with gold and silver inlays. The upper lid depicts three severed heads in silver while the upper and lower rims are bordered by skulls connected by scrolling, golden entrails. A wide band of dancing flames in gold runs along each side of the stand. This style of metalwork is consistent with Tibetan ritual objects that were informed by imperial designs of the early Ming dynasty (c. 15th century), as exemplified by an altar kapala illustrated in Henss, Buddhist Ritual Art of Tibet, Stuttgart, 2020, fig. 322. Also compare with a later example in the Fondacion Alain Bordier (von Schroder, Art sacre du Tibet, 2013, p. 225, no. 120).Published:Robert Thurman and David Weldon, Sacred Symbols: The Ritual Art of Tibet, New York, 1999, p. 124, no. 56.Natalie Bazin, Rituels tibétains: Visions secrètes du Vème Dalaï Lama, Paris, 2002, p. 158, no. 125.Exhibited:Rituels tibétains: Visions secrètes du Vème Dalaï Lama, Musée Guimet, Paris, 6 November 2002 - 24 February 2003.Provenance:Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1990s