Phurba for comments

[mariusgmioc]

Hello,

I have this massive Phurba and I would like to know possible origin (Tibet, Nepal, Buthan?).

It is approximately 47 cm long (18,5"), is made of silver and decorated with coral, turquoise and amethyst, and has steel blade.

[Battara]

I believe these are a little rare. This from is used for meditation purposes.

[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]

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/auction-0233/phurba-tibetan-ritual-dagger-in-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.

[Sajen]

Hello Jose,

These ornate silver ones never have been in use, they are modern art work.

Regards,
Detlef

[mariusgmioc]

Hello Jose,

These ornate silver ones never have been in use, they are modern art work.

Regards,
Detlef

You mean that these phurbas "never have been in use" for slaying any demon or outer planar malefic being right?!

As opposed to other antique, museum pieces that have many confirmed kills of big nasty demons in their portfolio. :p:p:p

[Sajen]

You mean that these phurbas "never have been in use" for slaying any demon or outer planar malefic being right?!

Hi Marius,

Yes, they are modern art pieces and not relevant to the culture there. And the silver is an alloy with low silver content. Real ones from wood, iron and brass.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

I'm bringing this one back up just to explain why I sent it to the Miscellaneous Forum. The phurba is a religious symbol of Hindu-Buddhism, especially in Tibet. The three-sided, triangular, pointed section represents a tent peg. The peg is intended to immobilize a hostile spirit while the vajra or a representation of the god vajrakila at the other end channels energy (represented by thunderbolts) to nullify the spirit. The "blade" is actually not a representation of a blade at all. The phurba is not a dagger as such.

While a phurba looks as if it should be a dagger, that is not the interpretation of its form by its host religion.