Archive of Shamanic and Buddhist Shrine Objects on 3Worlds

ALL OF THE OBJECTS ON THIS PAGE THAT HAVE ALREADY SOLD

This page is here simply because the objects are beautiful and also to show the types of objects the gallery sells from time to time.

HUMAN SKULL OFFERING BOWL

Price: £595 (including postage worldwide)

(Sanskrit: kapala, Tibetan: thod-pa or thod-phor)
Origin: Tibet or Nepal
Age: 40 -150 years
Length: 180mm (6.9 inches) approx
Width: 130mm (5.2 inches) approx

A beautifully carved ritual offering bowl made from the top of a human skull. The carving on the skull is of the chitipati - lord and lady of the charnel ground. The inside of the skull is lined with silver and there is a decorated silver band around the outside decorated with real turquoise and red coral. The bowl is of beautiful craftsmanship.

Kapal are used in tantric ceremonies in both Buddhist and Hindu traditions, and in some Himalayan shamanic traditions also. They are used in ceremonies to symbolically transform base offerings to nectar - the food of the gods. They are also used to hold dough offering cakes (torma) representing human flesh, and (or) wine, which represents human blood. These are symbolic offering to wrathful beings such as Mahakala. The dough cakes are often shaped and painted to resemble human eyes, ears and tongues, and can at times contain human blood or corpse fat or posion, but generally are just made from plain barley flour dough.

Kapala are often shown in the hands of wrathful beings and female beings called dakini - often filled with foaming and frothing blood. They represent the female atribute found in tantric teachings, as does the tibetan bell - and like the bell they are held in the left hand.

They are 'married' with the 'male' flaying knife (Sanskrit: kartrika, Tibetan: trigu), in the same way as the 'female' bell is matched with the 'male' dorje.

This is a most exceptional bowl and may be the other half of the flaying knife listed above as they both came from the same collection.

A rare object to make offerings with on your altar, it would perhaps be disrespectful to use it for display unless in a museum or educational setting.

HAND CARVED DEER ANTLER PHURBA - SHAMANS DAGGER

Origin: Tibet or Nepal
Age: 50 - 150 years approx
Length: 335mm (13.2 inches) approx

An amazingly hand carved horn or antler phurba. Phurbas are used by Buddhist lamas and shamans throughout Nepal and Tibet for healing, protection against harm, and the killing of demons - both internal and external. They are very powerful and unique ritual items, and wooden ones like this are kept by Nepalese shamans on their altars to represent the three worlds and the world tree that connects them together.

This is a fairly old, extreamly well carved phurba with a degree of craftsmanship rarely seen. It would have taken hundreds of hours of time to make and is a fine example of the carvers art.

For more information about phurbas read the article about them on the articles page of this website.

MONGOLIAN SHAMANS BELL

Price: £95 (including postage Worldwide)

Origin: Mongolia
Age: 100 - 300 years approx
Bell Height: 90mm (3.5 inches approx)
Bell Diameter: 79mm (3.2 inches approx)

A nice, well cast, antique white shaman's bell.

In Mongolia and much of Siberia there are two forms of shaman, the white and the black. This is nothing to do with good or evil, it simply differentiates the different roles each type take in ceremonies and shamanic practice.

The bell started it's life as a Buddhist bell, which many shamans bells are, but during it's history the vajra top of the bell has been removed an a metal loop added, to which part of an offering scarf (khadak) has been tied to form a loop for the shaman to put around their wrist while it is being played.

This bell did not have a clapper when Nicholas obtained it, but he has fitted a small brass shaman's tiger bell which now serves as a clapper and gives the bell a nice sound (the photo of the inside of the bell was taken before the tiger bell clapper was put in, and so does not show it).

The bell is a beautiful example of an old shamans bell and would be perfect for shamanic practice.

(Mongolian White Shaman with bell and jaw harp)

For more information about bells and dorjes please read the article about the ritual objects of Tibetan Tantra on the articles page of this website.

TIBETAN TANTRIC HUMAN BONE ORNAMENT SET (Necromancers Bone Apron)

(Tibetan: rus rgyan)
Origin: Tibet or Nepal
Age: 40 -80 years

An extremely rare, museum quality, beautifully hand carved, human bone Tantric bone ornament set comprisiong of full apron with cloth backing, two arm bands, two ankle bands, and hat.

Items like this come onto the market extremly infrequently, as the exporting of them from Nepal or Tibet is now prohibited. There are now some recently made copies of them on the market made in sweatshops in China, but this one came from a collector of ritual objects in the West together with other human bone ritual objects bought at the time and is therefore a real ritual object - not a copy.

Ornaments sets like this are worn in ceremonies by high ranking tantric lamas, ritual dancers and some tantric shamans.

The set is in good condition and is quite soundly strung. It is a wearable set, and could be put to use in the correct manner.

Although single carved bones from broken sets come on to the market from time to time - generally reaching prices between £500 and £1000 each - it is very rare indeed to find a complete set in such good usable condition.

The set is suitable for use by tantric practioners and Ngakpas etc., or could be displayed. It is probably a once in a life time change to obtain such a set.

A seperate page devoted to this set - with a wide range of photos can be found HERE

TIBETAN TANTRIC HUMAN BONE ORNAMENT (Necromancers Bone Apron)

(Tibetan: rus rgyan)
Origin: Tibet
Age: 250 -200 years
Length of longest carving: 140mm (5.5 inches) approx
Width of longest carving: 34mm (1.35 inches) approx
Carving with birds: 39mm (1.6 inches) square approx

An extremely rare, museum quality, hand carved, human bone chest decoration from a set of human bone tantric ornaments. The set would have originally included a bone crown, earrings, armbands, apron and other itmes which have been lost or seperated over time.

Items like this come onto the market extremly infrequently. This one is believed to date from between 1790 and 1820 and was obtained from an antiques dealer in Manchester in the UK who bought it from a family with connections to Clive of India. It is original, used and authentic.

Ornaments like this are worn in ceremonies by high ranking tantric lamas, ritual dancers and some shamans.

The set is in good condition and is quite soundly strung, although during it's more recent life one of the strings on the right hand side as you look at it has broken and been re-strung incorrectly with a number of beads left out of the stringing (compaire the two lower strings in the second photo above - the lefthand side as you look at it is correct). The plastic bag in the photo contains the missing beads and it would be easy to restore this with new thread. Nicholas is willing to do this free of charge if required.

All the beads are bone except for three small ones which are either quartz/rock crystal or clear glass, and one that I can not identify but might be stained ivory, another form of bone or fine grained light coloured wood. These four beads are all on the end of the strings containing the bird beads, two on each side.

The set is suitable for use by tantric practioners and Ngakpas etc., or could be displayed.

HUMAN SKULL, TANTRIC LAMA or SHAMAN'S HUMAN SKULL DAMARU DRUM

Origin: Tibet or Nepal
Age: 30 - 70 years approx
Diameter of drum head at widest point: 142mm (5.6 inches approx)
Overall Length 0f drum and tail: 610mm (24 inches)

Tibetan Buddhist, double sided 'damaru' drum made from the tops of two human skulls, joined together.

Drums like this are used in tantric rituals by lamas and Tibetan shamans. They are partically favoured by the old 'Red Hat' Nyingma school of Buddhism who use human bone objects more than other later schools do.

The damaru is complete with a embossed silver band between the two skulls, this is set with (probably faux) turquoise and red coral).

Beneath the drum hangs a traditional brocade tail - this appears to be newer than the drum itself, and it comes in a nice brocade cloth case.

The drum is in excellent condition, with tight skins (probably goat) and has a very good sound.

For more information about damaru and chod drums please read the article about the ritual objects of Tibetan Tantra on the articles page of this website.

TANTRIC LAMA or SHAMAN'S PAINTED HUMAN SKULL DAMARU DRUM

Price: £495 (including postage worldwide)

Origin: Tibet or Nepal
Age: 30 - 70 years approx
Diameter of drum head at widest point: 134mm (5.4 inches approx)
Overall Length 0f drum and tail: 700mm (27.5 inches)

Tibetan Buddhist, double sided 'damaru' drum made from the tops of two human skulls, joined together.

This damaru is beautifully hand painted with wrathful images, making it a very special drum indeed.

Beneath the drum hangs a traditional brocade tail, and it comes in a nice brocade cloth case which appears to be newer than the drum, but which fits it perfectly.

The drum is in excellent condition, with tight skins (probably goat) and has a very good sound.

For more information about damaru and chod drums please read the article about the ritual objects of Tibetan Tantra on the articles page of this website.

SHAMAN'S DRUM BEATER

Origin: Mongolia
Age: 30 - 70 years approx
Length of actual beater: 310mm (12.2 inches approx)
Overall Length: 973mm (38.2 inches)

A very rare example of a Mongolian shaman's traditional drum beater rattle.

Beaters like this are made from wood and covered with animal fur (this example - animal unknown). On the back of the drum beater are a series of iron rings which rattle as the drum is beaten. At the end of the beater hang a number of silk and man made fabrick 'snakes, including a very fine blue silk offering scarf or 'khadag.'

Drum paddles like this are very important shamanic objects in their own right, they are used as rattles and in methods of divination, and as a blessing object. Many shamans get these before they obtain drums and some shamans use these all the time instead of drums.

The drum beater shows some wear at the part where it hits the drum, and the wooden part held in the hand is dirty from use. It is however still strong and suitable for use with a drum or by itself.

Drum paddles like this are considered to be very sacred items, and real ones that have been used by shamans are not normally parted with, as they are considered to be 'alive,' having thier own spirit like the spirit of the drum itself. A very rare item of great interest.

SHAMAN'S JAW HARP (Khumus)

Price: £69 (including postage worldwide)

Origin: Mongolia or Southern Siberia
Age: 50 - 100 years approx
Length of harp: 92mm (3.6 inches) approx

Siberian and Mongolia shamans use jawharps almost as much as they use drums - sometimes more. They are extremely important tools, used to call to the spirits, to enter trance and for healing.

This is a proper, handmade, metal shaman's jawharp complete with a wooden support for it to keep it safe.

A beautiful - well made harp in good condition. It is not very loud, but it does work, and can be played. Not a high-grade musical instrument, but a real shaman's ritual object

ANTIQUE CHINESE 'SEVEN-STARS' JIAN SWORD

Origin: Zhejiang Province - Eastern China
Age: 225 - 275 years approx
Length: 578mm (22.75 inches) approx

This is beautiful example of a rare seven-stars Longquan sword.

It is called a 'seven-stars' sword because it has seven brass dots set into the blade on both sides as decoration - these represent the seven stars known as 'The Plough' in Europe,and as the 'Big Dipper' in America - the stars are part of the Great Bear constellation.

The sword is in good condition, the blade still has a keen edge. The handle is bound with wire (probably copper) over a wooden base, and the sword guard is secure although is lacking the original packing underneath which held it static. This could easily be replaced with wood or even cloth wadding

Real Longquan swords are very sought after, and the star decoration on the blade makes this a desirable example. A suitable sword for martial arts practice or for ritual use or even simply display.

SHAMAN'S OR LAMA'S RITUAL ARROW AND WOODEN CASE

Origin: Southern Siberia, Buryatiya or Northern Mongolia
Age: 30 - 100 years approx
Length: 233mm (9.3 inches) approx

A rare shaman's or lama's 'magical' arrow, complete with small shaman's mirror (toli), and pieces of silk, complete with it's case, which is made from wood, covered in cloth.

Magical arrows are used in many shamanic cultures around the world, and this is very much the case in both Mongolia and Tibet. In Tibetan Buddhism Silk Arrows (Tib: Mda-dar) are arrows with either one or several silk scarfs tied to them which are used for divination, attracting wealth and many other types of both white and black magic.

Wealth attracting arrows (Tib: Nor sGrub Mda-dar) are used to 'hunt' wealth (or other things one wishes to gain) with focused intent, and are normally painted red. This arrow is painted red above the feathers so it is almost certainly a wealth arrow.

Arrows like this are also used in Soul Retrieval ceremonies by Tibetan shamans.

A small simple brass shaman's mirror (toli) is tied to the arrow, together with several peices of silk and other material. The head of the arrow is hand made of iron. The flight feathers are from a large bird which might be vulture as this is a traditional feather to use.

The arrow and case are in good condition, although the flight feathers have seen better days. It could be displayed, put onto an altar or used if you felt it was appropriate.

CLOISONNE ALTAR INCENSE POT

Origin: Tibet or China
Age: 120 - 70 years approx
Height: 127mm (5 inches) approx
Diameter: 108mm (4.25 inches) approx

Beautiful cloisonne altar incense burner. Designed for Tibetan stick incense rather than loose 'smudge', the sticks are normally placed in sand or ash held within the pot.

A delightful and very special sacred object for your altar or collection.

LARGE CLOISONNE BRONZE GREEN TARA

Origin: Tibet or Western China
Age: 220 - 180 years approx
Height: 540mm (21.6 inches) approx
Width: 520mm (20.8 inches) approx
Depth: 350mm (14 inches) approx

A stunningly beautiful, large, very rare original 19th century cloisonne statue of the ever popular Tibetan Buddhist Goddess Green Tara The Statue is very finally made and would have been originally have been housed in a monastery or a noble or even possibly royal families palace, as such a fine statue would have been a very valuable item, taking a long time to make.

Green Tara is shown as a 16 year old girl in the power of young womanhood, seated in her normal posture with her left leg extended in the act of standing up to rush to the aid of all who call upon her.

Green Tara herself, and this statue radiate peace and beauty, and the size combined with the cloisonne floral decoration on this statue make it a unique item.

A truly beautiful historic sacred object that would sit well on a domestic or shrine room altar or it could simply be bought as a spectacular work of sacred art.

RITUAL TIBETAN BUDDHIST LONG LIFE VASE

Origin: Tibet (Sanskrit: Jinvana-kalasha Tib: Tshe-bum)
Age: 40 - 20 years approx
Height: 170mm (6.7 inches) approx

Beautiful gild and silver long life vase which is used in Tibetan longevity rituals associated with either Amitayus. White Tara or Ushnivijaya, the Tibetan Buddhist beings associated with long life practice. The shamanic tantric Buddha Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) is also generally shown holding a long life vase in a skull cup (Kapala)

During the rituals the vase is symbolically filled to the top with the nectar of immortality which can either be empowered water or barley beer Tib: Chang).

The stopped at the top of the vase is separate and has a small representation of Amitayus holding a long life vase.

The vase is in very good condition, being fairly recently made (less than twenty years) and is a beautiful. It is gilt and silver and set with faux red coral and turquoise. A very special object for your altar.

TIBETAN COPPER AND SILVER DOCTORS HERB CONTAINER

Origin: Tibet
Age: 50 - 150 years approx
Height: 295 mm (11.5 inches) approx
Diameter: 120 mm (4.75 inches) approx

A very rare, beautifully handmade, embossed copper and silver Tibetan apothecaries herb container, ideal for keeping incense or smudging herbs in.

The body of the container is made from copper, set with silver decoration including dragons, mara (sea monsters) and bands of decorative pattern. The container has two handles in the form of wrathful beings such as Mahakala, the well made ring handles are suspended from the chins of each of the beings. The top of the container has a snow lion on top of it.

the container is in very good condition, and it quite suitable for use or display. Apothecaries herb pots like this are extreamly rare.

COPPER OR BRONZE PHURBA - RITUAL TIBETAN BUDDHIST OR SHAMANS DAGGER

Origin: Tibet
Age: late 250 - 100 years approx
Length: 450mm (17.75 inches) approx

A Beautifully cast, very splendid example of a large, heavy, solid, high grade ceremonial Tibetan bronze or copper ritual dagger. The detail on it is crisp and very well executed. The phurba is in excellent condition.

Phurbas are made of a variety of materials, such as wood, iron, silver and copper, and used by Buddhist lamas and shamans throughout Nepal and Tibet for healing, protection against harm and the killing of demons - both internal and external ones. A very powerful and unique ritual item.

This phurba has a vajra (dorje) centre part with beautifully cast eagle claws and a horses head on the top representing Hayagriva, a Tibetan wrathful spirit, also known as 'Horse Neck', who's scream is said to shatter the illusions we have about reality and dissolve all the worlds together.

For more information about phurbas read the article about them on the articles page of this website.

TIBETAN BUDDHIST DRILBU AND DORJE (BELL AND THUNDERBOLT) SET

(Sanskrit: Ghanta and Vajra - Tibetan: Drilbu and Dorje)
Origin: Mongolia
Age: 300 - 100 years approx
Bell Height:140mm (5.5 inches approx)
Bell Diameter: 73mm (2.9 inches approx)
Dorje Length: 92mm (3.7 inches approx)

A very old, finely cast, matching Drilbu and Dorje set. This Tibetan Buddhist ritual set from Mongolia is quite delightful. Both parts of the set are very well cast and it is rare to find an old set that is complete rather than 'a bell from here and a dorje from there'. The tone of the bell is clear with a long sustain, and both the bell and the dorje show the sort wear created by thousands of hours of human hands holding them and using them in ritual practice. If I was being new-age about them I would say the set emanates a sense of love.

A very rare item that would be a delight for anyone who wishes to use them in their practice.

For more information about bells and dorjes please read the article about the ritual objects of Tibetan Tantra on the articles page of this website.

BUDDHIST SHAMAN'S MIRROR

Origin: Mongolia
Age: 17th -19th Century
Diameter: 53mm (2 inches) approx

This very rare, beautifully decorated melong (Buddhist Mirror) from Mongolia would have been used by a shaman or a lama in healing and other protective rituals. It is made of brass and decorated with the knot of eternity, a symbol found both in Tibetan Buddhism and Mongolian shamanism.

Around the outside of the mirror are the twelve animals of the horoscope and inside of these the Buddhist symbol of the two golden fish which are a symbol of fertility, and also signify fearlessness and happiness, as the fish swim freely through the oceans (of life, death and rebirth) without drowning, enhancing the mirrors protective qualities.

The mirror is in good condition, showing normal wear and evidence of having been being polished during its long life. Their is part of an old silk fabric offering scarf tied to its back.

MONGOLIAN OR SOUTHERN SIBERIAN SHAMAN'S HORSE STAFF

Origin: Mongolia or Southern Siberia
Age: 50 - 150 years approx
Length: 442mm (17.4 inches) approx

A very fine, museum quality example of an enormiously rare shaman's horse head staff.

Staffs like this are held by shamans as they go into trance. Some staffs are made of wood, and some are made of iron. Most depict horses heads, although some have dragons heads. They are a very important part of a shaman's equipment.

The staff is carved from wood in the shape of a horse, and is made from pine or possibly the root from a birch tree - which would be the traditional material.

When this staff arrived at 3worlds, it was only the carved wooden horse staff - the objects normally tied to it having been removed. Nicholas has 'restored' the staff by adding the correct items once again - namely a bell and cloth streamers.

The bell used is a very old bronze siberian shaman's bell, removed from a shaman's costume, and the strips of old sky blue material are taken from an old offering scarf originally tied to another antique ritual item in his collection.

As both of these items are from Mongolia and are authentic shaman's objects they are appropriate to use to bring the staff to life once again.

It is in good condition with patina and wear consistant with it's ritual use.

It is suitable for ritual use or display.

LARGE ANTIQUE VAJRA HANDLED RITUAL SWORD

Origin: Tibet or Mongolia
Age: 100 - 250 years approx
Length: 850mm (33.4 inches) approx

A very fine large example of a rare Tibetan Buddhist ritual sword.

The sword has a brass vajra handle and a steel blade with a dark brass or bronze energy line running from the handle to the point. The sword ends with slight radienting flames. The blade has no sharp edge as the sword is ritual rather than an actual weapon.

Swords like this are used in Buddhist meditation practice as they are held by Buddhas and other Buddhist beings and the meditator holds them to identify with the being they are meditating upon.

Many swords Tibetan swords have flames on the end, and are used in the practice of Manjusri, but swords with out flames, or with only slight flames - like this example - are rare, and are connected with other - often wrathfful Buddhist beings.

Swords like this are also used by some Mongolian shamans.

The sword is in excellent condition, with some wear and grime consistent it's long ritual use.

TIBETAN COPPER SHAMANISTIC-ANAMISTIC SNOW LEOPARD THOGCHAG AMULET

Origin: TIBET or MONGOLIA
Age: 40-150 years approx
Width: 48mm (1.8 inches) approx

Very fine, skillfully crafted, copper thogchag of a snow leopard. This is a beautifully crafted example of a Tibetan man's protective amulet, with a design that stretches right back to Scythian artwork around 2,000 years ago. A very special piece.

WOODEN SHAMANIC SPIRIT GUARDIAN ONGON

Origin: Tibet or Mongolia
Age: 600 - 400 years approx
Height: 217mm (8.5 inches) approx

Extremely rare, ancient carved wooden fetish ongon, possibly in the form of a naga. The fetish is in beautiful condition, although is obviously time-worn. The wood is hard and in good condition and it has a very special quality with a nice patina.

A delightful and very special sacred object for your altar or collection. Items like this only come up rarely.

CLOISONNE ALTAR INCENSE POT

Origin: Tibet or China
Age: unknown, but probably mid to late 20th century
Height: 265mm (10 inches) approx

Large, beautiful cloisonne altar incense burner. Designed for Tibetan stick incense rather than loose 'smudge', the sticks are normally placed in sand or ash held within the pot.

The burner has arms which are fixed onto the pot by means of small screws, and three lion feet. The arms and one of the feet are slightly loose, although there is no danger of them detaching and the function or look of the pot is not effected. The pot has a pierced lid through which the smoke flows. This is set with a snow lion on the top. There are slight pits and air bubbles here and there in the cloisonne, but generally it is good condition with no cracks or missing sections.

A delightful and very special sacred object for your altar or collection.

SILVER KYLYN INCENSE BURNER

Origin: Tibet
Age: 75 - 150 years approx
Height: 138mm (5.4 inches) approx
Width: 105mm (4.2 inches) approx
Depth: 53mm (2.0 inches) approx

A beautiful, silver incense burner in the shape of a mythical Kylyn beast.

The burner is beautifully molded and decorated, and incense is placed in the animals body via a hole in it's back which is covered with a removable decorated cover.

A very special burner in excellent condition, suitable for use on an altar.

LARGE SILVER SARASVATI STATUE

Origin: Tibet
Age: 75 - 150 years approx
Height: 305mm (12.0 inches) approx
Width: 205mm (8.0 inches) approx
Depth: 122mm (4.8 inches) approx
Weight: 9.0 kg approx

A delightful, large, heavy, silver statue of Sarasvati the Tibetan bodhisattva of creativity, art and music, shown riding upon her totem annimal the ghoose.

The iconography is correct and the detailing of the statue is very crisp, which together with its size make this a powerful and imposing work of art. Suitable for use in a shrine room, on an altar or could simply be enjoyed as a work of art.

SHAMAN'S BELL AND IRON CHAIN SET (shaman's Bells 01)

Price: £140 (including postage Worldwide)

Origin: Nepal
Age: 50 - 150 years approx
Chain Length: 1095mm (43inches approx)
Bell Width: 38mm (1.5 inches approx)

A nice, heavy and loud set of shaman's bells from nepal. Nepali shamans wear such bell sets around their neck or shoulders and the bells jingle loudly when the shaman dances or performs ceremony. They are an important part of a shamans ritual costume.

This set contains fourteen bells fixed to a simple iron chain..

Shaman's bell and chain sets are often not easy to find, and this is a nice example of one.

(Nepali Shaman with bells)

ANTIQUE HUMAN BONE TIBETAN BUDDHIST MALA (Mala 01)

Price: £425 (including postage worldwide)

Origin: Tibet or Nepal
Age: 20 - 70 years approx
Diameter of Beads: 9mm (0.3 inches) approx

This antique mala (tenwa) is made of 108 human bone beads. Traditionally 108 human skulls are used and one bead is taken from the third eye of each skull, but I can not say if this has been the case in this mala, but it is a traditional human skull mala.

The beads are in good condition, and it comes in a simple modern black brocade bag. It has nice patina and signs of use. It a very useable mala for shamanic divination or Buddhist practice. Human bone malas are becoming increasingly rare now as the government of Nepal are being very strick about the export of human bones. This came to the West from Nepal in the 1970's before the law was introduced there, and it is a well used original ritual object that has been used for Buddhist practice.

For more information about malas read the article about them on the articles page of this website.

LARGE CLOISONNE GREEN TARA STATUE (Item No. Rupa 04)

Price: £485 (including postage in UK)
(Postage to Europe - additional £40)
(Postage Outside of Europe - additional £70)

Origin: Tibet
Age: 5 - 10 years approx
Height: 470mm (18.5 inches) approx
Width: 293mm (11.6 inches) approx
Depth: 230mm (9 inches) approx
Weight: 9.0 kg approx

A very beautiful, heavy, large cloisonne Green Tara statue. These are the types of statues made for Buddhist temples today in modern Tibet, and such statues rarely get to the West.

The statue is made of brass and has been finished to a dull polish rather than a high metalic shine, giving the statue a grounded feel. It is decorated with glass cloisonne flowers on her clothes.

The iconography is correct and the detailing of the statue is very crisp. The statue is very fine, imposing and well made, and is suitable for use in a shrine room, on an altar or could simply be enjoyed as a work of art.

SEVERED HEADS WRATHFUL ALTAR OFFERING (Item No. Altar Item 01)

Price: £59 (including postage Worldwide)

Origin: Mongolia
Age: 100 - 250 years approx
Height: 148mm (1.9 inches approx)

Small, old, bronze casting of three severed human heads with their hair pulled up as if they were being carried by it. This is a wrathful offering from a Mongolian Buddhist altar and is a very unusual piece. There are traces of gold on the faces of the heads, at one time they would have been completely gilded

The heads are in good condition except for a small break in the base, where a small section of the side of the base is missing. This is a very old break.

A unique object, finding another one is very unlikely.