Exceptional Large Aged Ghanta Bell; Tibetan Bell

Details

Description

This is a Tibetan Ghanta Bell. Sitting atop the bell’s handle is a vajra crown (resembling a talon). Per the … Read more This is a Tibetan Ghanta Bell. Sitting atop the bell’s handle is a vajra crown (resembling a talon). Per the University of Michigan Museum of Art, “the vajra is a Buddhist symbol representing a thunderbolt and the diamond. The thunderbolt is meant to recall the lightning strike experience of enlightenment the historical Buddha experienced while meditating under a bodhi tree, while the diamond indicates indestructibility.” The face appearing on the neck of the bell may be an image of Prajnaparamita, a female personification representing the attainment of enlightenment or the “perfection of wisdom.” One of the shorter finials around the middle may have a chip and there is a light area on the patina where a piece of tape was stuck to the body. Overall, the piece appears in very good condition and stands at roughly 16" tall, making it the largest we have ever owned. When used, the ghanta bell is paired with a separate vajra (the ritual object described above). See less