An elongated Thokcha with three raised
circular beads. Possibly represents a vajra.

36 mm x 10 mm

35 mm x 15 mm

Armor Thokcha

44 mm x 18 mm

Seated lion thokcha. Half of the body is missing. 30 mm x 28 mm

A small hand carved nephrite jade statue of
Milarepa. 80 mm x  50 mm x 26 mm

I occasionally like to view past lots that have sold at the Christie's auction house. It is a good way to view rare Tibetan items and marvel at the sheer beauty of objects from a bygone age. This small 13th/14th century rupa of the Mahasiddha Virupa caught my eye today ( height approx 4¾ inches). This sold in March 2000 for $36,800. The Tibetan inscription at the base translates as: "Salutations to the one with the dark red body who makes dangerous persons shake, who holds the skull of immortality in the left hand, who sits in the manner of the king of all, who holds up the sun. Auspiciousness." Click the photo to browse past lots at the Christie's website.

Bronze mirror or Toli. 87.91 mm diameter

Antique clay Tārā Tsa Tsa. Stamped on the underside with the seed syllable āḥ in each of the five directions. 66 mm x 48 mm

A rare natural red coral carving displaying Avalokiteśvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Here he is seen in his four aremed form with mantra on the reverese side. 41 mm x 30 mm x 25 mm

A lovely old wooden object (zan par) displaying fairly crude carvings of male figures on each side. One side shows two animals that look like a Himalayan antelope or goat and the other is perhaps a ram. At the apex on one of the edges, the Tibetan character for the syllable Om can be seen.  It has a patina that shows it has clearly been handled and used over many years. It is likely it was ritually used to make impressions in dough -- thus creating an effigy that could be used in dispelling obstacles. 82 mm x 42 mm x 12 mm

A lovely Thokcha dispalying great age. Only one of the outer circles remains on this piece. Previous owners have worn through each circle due to hundreds of years of daily wear. 43.29 mm x 36.35 mm

Top view of an antique drilbu or bell ring.

This piece reminds me of the small Ongon amulets that are used by Mongolian Shamans and so it is likely to be of Mongolian origin. 40 mm x 13.30

 

Antique set of tingsha with protective case. 

Old silver drilbu and dorje rings.

A small antique copper alloy statue of Vishnu. 68 mm x 37 mm

Antique vajra or dorje copper alloy ring.