A LARGE AND MASSIVE BRONZE VAJRA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Tibet. Heavily cast, the central rod made of iron, the four-pronged vajra decorated in relief with worshippers to the lower end of each prong flanked by incised borders, the central sphere framed by a beaded border and a foliate band.

Provenance: From an old South German private collection, by repute acquired from Schoettle Ostasiatika between 1968 and 1989, and thence by descent to the last owner.
Condition: Very good condition with old wear and some casting imperfections. The iron with encrustations. Few minuscule nicks and light scratches here and there. Fine, naturally grown, dark patina.

Weight: 987.1 g
Dimensions: Length 24.2 cm

The vajra, a symbol of indestructibility and power, is one of the primary ritual symbols in Tibetan Buddhism. Derived from Sanskrit and translating to both thunderbolt and diamond, the vajra consists of two sets of prongs from which lotus petals emanate, flanking a central sphere. Often used in combination with a bell, which represents feminine wisdom, the vajra symbolizes the masculine attribute of skillful means or compassion.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 30 June 2020, lot 6034
Price: HKD 37,500 or approx. EUR 4,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large bronze vajra, Tibet, 17th century
Expert remark: Compare the similar decoration, though showing dragons instead of worshippers, and related size (26 cm). Note that the vajra is six-pronged and slightly less elaborate than the present lot.


十七至十八世紀大型銅金鋼杵
西藏。兩端首作五股式，摩羯首銜之，中央鑄鐵，托以蓮瓣，手執處光素。

來源：德國南部知名私人收藏，據説1968-1989年間購於Schoettle Ostasiatika ，保存至今。
品相：品相良好，有磨損和一些鑄造缺陷。鑄鐵部分有結殼。局部有微小刻痕和輕微劃痕。自然生長的天然深色包漿。

重量：987.1 克
尺寸：長24.2 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比, 2020年6月30日, lot 6034
價格：HKD 37,500（相當於今日EUR 4,500）
描述：十七世紀藏傳銅金剛杵
專家評論：比較相似的裝飾，但裝飾龍而非禮拜者，以及相近的尺寸 (26 厘米)。請注意此金剛杵為六股式和較少裝飾。