Untitled

Unknown

ca. 15th century · Steel inlaid with gold and silver · Asian Art

This flaying knife is styled in the Indian manner, with a long, hooked steel blade for butchering and flaying. A vajra (thunderbolt scepter), symbol par excellence of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, forms the handle. The steel blade issues from a wide-jawed sea monster (makara) hilt, finely damascened with gold and silver.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 15th century

Medium

Steel inlaid with gold and silver

Culture

Eastern Tibet, Derge

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Alexander Polsky, 1985