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Three-pronged Vajra Pestle (Sankosho)
early 1300s
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
Called a vajra in Sanskrit, a pestle of this kind is an Esoteric Buddhist ritual implement derived from the thunderbolt held by the Indian Vedic god Indra. The round forms along the center of the handle, known as demon eyes, are rather compressed in this example, and the lotus petal shapes near the prongs are quite sharply delineated.
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Details
- Title: Three-pronged Vajra Pestle (Sankosho)
- Date Created: early 1300s
- Physical Dimensions: Overall: 17.5 x 5 cm (6 7/8 x 1 15/16 in.)
- Type: Metalwork
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1974.264
- Medium: gilt bronze
- Fun Fact: The vajra is said to tear through ignorance like a powerful thunderbolt.
- Department: Japanese Art
- Culture: Japan, Kamakura period (1185-1333)
- Credit Line: Gift of Dr. Richard G. Paley
- Collection: Japanese Art
- Accession Number: 1974.264
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