art-of-swords: Vajra Water Knife Date: ca. 15th century Culture: Tibet Medium: Iron damascened with gold and silver Dimensions: H. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm); W. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm) Classification: Metalwork Credit Line: Lent by Anthony d’Offay Rights and Reproduction: Photograph © Rossi & Rossi A wavelike steel blade emitting from a makara (sea monster) and a wave-form hilt earned this blade the title Vajra Water Knife (Tibetan: dorjey chutri). The makara has an elephant’s trunk and tusks, which are bizarrely paired with the jaws of a crocodile and the flowing mane of a lioness. The traditional Indian makara of antiquity has an aquatic tail, which here, filtered through the Tibetan imagination, has become a great foaming wave. A variant of the traditional flaying knife (Tibetan: triguk), this blade is a masterpiece of gold and silver workmanship. The contrasting metals damascened into the iron surface create a ritual utensil of threatening beauty. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art 

art-of-swords:

Vajra Water Knife

  • Date: ca. 15th century
  • Culture: Tibet
  • Medium: Iron damascened with gold and silver
  • Dimensions: H. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm); W. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork
  • Credit Line: Lent by Anthony d’Offay
  • Rights and Reproduction: Photograph © Rossi & Rossi

A wavelike steel blade emitting from a makara (sea monster) and a wave-form hilt earned this blade the title Vajra Water Knife (Tibetan: dorjey chutri).

The makara has an elephant’s trunk and tusks, which are bizarrely paired with the jaws of a crocodile and the flowing mane of a lioness. The traditional Indian makara of antiquity has an aquatic tail, which here, filtered through the Tibetan imagination, has become a great foaming wave.

A variant of the traditional flaying knife (Tibetan: triguk), this blade is a masterpiece of gold and silver workmanship. The contrasting metals damascened into the iron surface create a ritual utensil of threatening beauty.

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art