Rare Large Ceremonial Antique Winged Deity Shaman Phurba

Rare Large Winged Deity Phurba

Size 33 x 16 cm (11 x 6 ½ inches) weight 258 grams (9 oz)

This is a large and exceptionally rare antique carved wooden shaman phurba depicting a 3-faced wrathful winged deity with 6 arms.  Two hands hold a lotus between them in prayer, while the others hold a Buddhist bell and dorje, prayer-wheel, and trident respectively.  The deity wears a 5-headed crown topped with a dorje trident, while the blade features a pair of entwined Nagas enclosing a small head. 

This extraordinary phurba was not carved in the round.  It is very frontal and has a plain featureless back.  However, it was clearly meant to be hand-held and might have been employed as a powerful ceremonial symbol rather than as a specific shamanic tool.  A piece of twine wrapped around the neck suggests that it was hung against a wall when not in use.

It is carved from a single piece of wood and is in excellent museum quality condition. 

Undoubtedly one of the finest and most interesting antique shaman phurba I have come across, powerful and highly collectable!