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Phurpa

Native NamePhurpa
Object Number:A1126
Current Location: Collections Storage
Culture:Tibetan
Buddhist
Provenience: Tibet
Date Made: 14th Century - Early 15th Century
Early Date: 1300
Late Date: 1425
Section:Asian
Materials:Iron
Brass
Technique:Engraved
Iconography:Heads
Bird
Height: 3.1 cm
Length: 31.3 cm
Credit Line:Purchased from Alexander Scott, 1914
Other Number:Getz 242 - Other Number

Description

Iron phurpha, ceremonial dagger. Four heads at the top with a bird on the knob above. The three edges of the dagger stand for the three virtues. The simple pillar is symbolic of Mount Meru which supposed to be of this shape, tapering towards both ends. The three heads are Vajrapani, Hayagriva, and Kundali. The bird on the top is supposed to be Garuda, the personification of aspiration and righteous ambition. 500-600 years old.

Current & Past Exhibitions:

Exhibition of Oriental Art (12 Feb 1916) View Objects in Exhibition
Exhibition of the Art of the Far East ( Dec 1914) View Objects in Exhibition

Bibliography:

[Catalogue] Getz, John. 1916. The University Museum Exhibition of Oriental Art.. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: No. 242View Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Article] Scott, Alexander. 1914. "The Alexander Scott Collection". The Museum Journal. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Vol. V. no. 2. pg. 55-114 Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Fig. 42cView Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Catalogue, Exhibition] University of Pennsylvania, Office of the President. 1914. Catalogue of an Exhibition of the Art of the Far East.. Philadelphia. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Pg. 32 No. 16View Objects related to this Actual Citation

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