A GOLD AND SILVER DAMASCENED IRON VAJRA, TIBET, 12TH CENTURY The four-pronged implement with central grip enclosed by beaded rims and bordered by two rows of four wrathful heads framed by lotus petals, the powerful arched prongs issuing from jaws of makaras. The gold and silver inlay work neatly applied.

Provenance: From a noted Swiss private collection.
Condition: Overall in good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, casting flaws, some corrosion and weathering, small nicks here and there. Losses to gold and silver inlays.

Weight: 213.0 g
Dimensions: Length 15.8 cm

Literature comparison: For a related example, employing mixed metals and with the prongs issuing from the heads of goats, see R. Thurman and D. Weldon, Sacred Symbols, The Ritual Art of Tibet, 1999, cat. no. 7.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 17 March 2015, lot 1041
Price: USD 11,875 or approx. EUR 14,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An iron vajra with gold and copper inlay Tibet, 12th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and decoration with wrathful faces and makara heads. Note the similar size (17.2 cm).



西藏十二世紀錯金銀寒鐵金剛杵
九股金剛杵，雙八字形，弧綫流暢，八楞菱形中股，兩側各有一個蓮臺，短小的摩羯頭。金銀鑲嵌。

來源：瑞士知名私人收藏。
品相：整體狀況良好，與年齡相稱。 大面積磨損，鑄造缺陷，一些腐蝕和風化，有小刻痕。局部金銀鑲嵌缺損。

重量：213.0 克
尺寸：長15.8 厘米

文獻比較：一件相近的例子，採用混合金屬，並從摩羯頭發出的棱角，見R. Thurman，D. Weldon，《Sacred Symbols，The Ritual Art of Tibet》，1999年，圖錄編號7。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2015年3月17日，lot 1041
價格：USD 11,875（相當於今日EUR 14,500）
描述：十二世紀西藏錯金銅鐵金剛杵
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型，以及憤怒面和摩羯頭的裝飾。請注意尺寸相似(17.2 厘米)。