Unknown Artist
Ritual bell and cover
- Location
- Upper Asian gallery
- Further information
The bell and thunderbolt (Tibetan: 'dorje'; Sanskrit: 'vajra') are the two most important instruments in Tibetan Tantric (Vajrayana) Buddhist ritual. The 'dorje' (thunderbolt) represents the idea of skill and is thought of as masculine in Tibetan Buddhism. The bell is regarded as feminine and represents supreme wisdom. Here, the bell's handle combines half a thunderbolt shape and the head of the goddess Prajna, who represents wisdom. The top of the bell is inscribed with the petals of a lotus and the body is decorated with a design of jewel-spitting heads called 'kala' (time). A band of thunderbolts at the bottom of the bell completes the design.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, December 2011
- Place of origin
-
Tibet
- Year
- 18th century
- Media
- Metalwork, Sculpture
- Medium
- brass bell; cover: woven cane with leather tie
- Dimensions
- 21.5 x 10.4cm overall
:
a - Bell; 21.5 x 8.5cm
b - Cover; 17.6 x 10.4cm - Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of J A and H D Sperling 2000
- Accession number
- 146.2000.a-b
