The 8 Tibetan ritualistic and sacred objects are the following:

1: A ritual dagger ‘Phurbu’. With a pointed, three-winged blade. The hilt is surmounted by a simple sacred symbol ‘Vajra’. Forged from a single piece of iron. L: 30 cm. With ritual daggers (or ‘ritual nails’), such as the present one, Tantric magicians in Tibet use to ‘nail’ evil spirits to the ground.

2: A sacred utensil ‘Dorje’ or ‘Vajra’, also called ‘thunder gusset’ or ‘diamond sceptre’, with four ‘claws’ or ‘spokes’ on either side of the central hilt (hence eight in total). With a long, rectangular handle retracted in one rounded area. L: 26.5 cm. The ‘Dorje’, or ‘Vajra’ is one of the most important sacred tools in Tibetan

Lamaist Buddhism. The eight ‘claws’ or ‘spokes’ symbolise a Buddhist’s ‘eightfold path’ towards spiritual enlightenment in Nirvana. During his prayer, each monk (‘Lama’) receives a ‘Dorje’ in his right, ‘male’ hand and a bell (‘Ghanta’) in the left, ‘female’ hand.

3 and 4: A grater used to obtain chips from ‘sacred metals’ employed in various, positive ceremonies (e.g. healing of an illness). A flat, lancet shaped iron board is attached with stripes of other ‘sacred metals’ (such as copper, brass and others). On the front, the board displays a transversal jagged projection with engraved

lotus flower on both sides. It is held on the back by means of an angular iron grip with two polygonal pommels. On the grip hangs an iron chain, to which an iron file is affixed. With this file, a magicians shaves the flat iron board and its accompanying ‘sacred metals’. A red coral pearl is attached to the iron chain by means of a string. L: 26 cm (the grater), 13 cm (file), 66 cm (in total).

5: A trident, called ‘Trishul’. The trident is in Indian Hinduism one of the attributes of Shiva. In the early Lamaist Buddhism of Tibet the trident (‘Trishul’) was adopted as a sacred symbol. Made of iron, with long, square hilt. L: 23.5 cm.

6: A smaller iron ‘hammer’, with thin, square handle and decorative forged ends. L: 21 cm.

7: A pointed, upwards-curved, flat ‘hook’ representing a ‘tongue’ sticking out of the mouth of a sea monster’s crowned head (‘Makara’) (engraved on both sides). With a hexagonal long grip terminating in a polyhedral finial. All forged in iron. L: 22 cm.

8: A ‘ladle’ for liquid offerings. With a small, hemispheric ladle on the front and a very long, thin, square handle, the centre and end of which are embellished with thickened offset décor. All forged in iron. The small ladle displays small age-related damage (a hole). L: 33 cm.

All 8 Tibetan ritual objects: 19th century or earlier. (ME)

Provenance: This rare set of eight Tibetan ritual objects a belonging to a Tantric magician are from the personal collection of the Austrian mountain climber, explorer and writer Heinrich Harrer (1912–2006). This is confirmed

by an extant ‘sale contract’, exhibited by the Heinrich-Harrer-Museum in Hüttenberg in Carinthia, Austria, on 25.7.1995: ‘... A tool belonging to a Tantric magician ... a complete set of 8 individual pieces ... The items

were part of Heinrich Harrer’s Tibetan collection and were brought to Europe personally by him ...’. The aforementioned ‘sale contract’ from 1995 is available; the objects have thence been preserved in an Austrian private collection.

HEINRICH HARRER, 1912 - 2006. The well-known Austrian mountain climber, traveller and writer (“Seven Years in Tibet”) collected this complete set of eight different “Tools of a Tibetan Magician” himself in Tibet and brought it to Europe.

Photo from: “Ladakh” by Heinrich Harrer

Specialist: Erwin Melchardt

Erwin Melchardt

+43-1-515 60-465

erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at

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