Spearhead (<i>Mdung Rtse</i>)

Unknown

17th–18th century · Iron, gold · Arms and Armor

The decoration of this spearhead is crisply engraved and its entire exterior surface is finely crosshatched and damascened in gold, including the undecorated areas. The motifs include a symmetrical arrangement of stylized flames running up both sides of the blade, with a simplified version of the Sword of Wisdom along the central ridge.

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th–18th century

Medium

Iron, gold

Culture

Tibetan

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2001