A gold-inlaid iron vajra, Tibet, 12th / 13th century

Dutch Private Collection, acquired in the 1980s and 90s.

The five-pronged vajra decorated with makara and padma elements, with gold and copper inlay at the centre.

The vajra or "Diamond Sceptre" is a quintessential Tibetan Buddhist object representing the 'diamond like' fundamental nature of the enlightened state as unshakable and indivisible. It is rare to find one with the original gold preserved.

A closely related example from the collection of Max Maxwell was sold in our New York rooms, 19th March 2014, lot 59.